Iran with update; crew of Israeli ship MSC Aries released; ship still in Iran's control

TEHRAN: Iran has released all the crew members of the captured Israeli ship. However, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that the ship is still under their control. There were 25 members including 17 Indians. Ann Tessa Joseph, the only woman among them and a Malayali, was released earlier. The foreign minister said the crew were being released on humanitarian grounds and that they and the ship's captain could return to their countries.

The MSC Aries was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz on April 13. The ship is owned by the company of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. The ship was seized after Iran announced retaliation for Israel's attack on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Iran has also threatened to close the vital shipping lane.

The radar of the vessel, which is now in Iran's judicial custody inside Iranian waters, has been turned off.