S Jaishankar's intervenes; Permission for Indian officials to communicate with crew of seized ship

TEL AVIV: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has stated that Indian officials will be permitted to meet with the 17 Indian crew members of the Israeli cargo ship MSC Aries, which was seized by Iranian forces. Following a phone call between Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Iranian officials, permission is being granted for officials to visit the ship's crew.

Iran seized the vessel while it was en route from the UAE to Mumbai. Among the 17 Indians on board, two are Malayalis. India had previously initiated diplomatic efforts in both New Delhi and Tehran to ensure their safety and facilitate their release. The Malayali crew members are Shyamnath Thelamparampath from Ramanattukara, Sumesh from Vadassery in Palakkad and PV Dhanesh from Kattikulam Palvelicham in Wayanad. In total, there are 25 crew members on board.

Two weeks ago, Israel, engaged in conflict with Hamas in Palestine, conducted an airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria. The situation was further complicated by a warning from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that seven people including two generals were killed.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGS) seized the Zodiac Group ship owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. Soldiers boarded the vessel via helicopters near the Emirati port city of Fujairah.