Indian Crew Members: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was informed by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian that Tehran will soon permit Indian government representatives to speak with 17 Indian crew members on board the cargo ship MSC Aries, which the Iranian military detained close to the Strait of Hormuz.
Concerns Voiced by Jaishankar
In a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Jaishankar reportedly voiced concerns on the conditions of 17 Indian crew members aboard the MSC Aries and asked Tehran for aid. This information was released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
The Iranian Foreign Minister retorted that his country was investigating the specifics of the cargo ship that had been taken into custody. He promised to offer information shortly about the likelihood of an Indian government delegation interacting with the crew.
Video Shows Commandos Targeting Ship Linked to Israel
In a video released on April 13 to The Associated Press, commandos were seen helicopter attacking the ship connected to Israel close to the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred one day after Iran launched an attack on Israel late on Saturday using some 300 drones and missiles in revenge for an Israeli raid on an Iranian embassy in Damascus, the capital of Syria, on April 1.
In the course of the conversation, Amirabdollahian justified his nation’s “legitimate defense”—a reference to Iran’s strike on Israel—and advised Jaishankar to lower tensions. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, he demanded that India continue to play a role through international organisations, including as the UN Security Council, in putting an end to the conflict in Gaza and the Israeli offensive in the Palestinian enclave.
Iran’s Call for Stability and Truce in Gaza
It stated that he restated Iran’s demands for the establishment of peace and security in the area, extending from the Mediterranean coast to the Red Sea, as well as a long-term truce in Gaza. According to Jaishankar, ensuring a decrease in tensions was the most crucial matter. In order to guarantee a positive resolution to the tensions between Iran and Israel, he further urged all sides to use caution.
Jaishankar stated on Sunday that he discussed his worries about the escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel with his counterparts in the two Middle Eastern nations. Jaishankar claimed to have brought up the matter of the 17 Indian crew men who are stuck on board the MSC Aries with the Iranian Foreign Minister over the phone.
Jaishankar Engages with Iranian FM on Crew Release
“Spoke to Iranian FM @Amirabdolahian this evening. Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch,” he wrote on X.
Following a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Jaishankar posted a similar tweet that, “Just concluded a conversation with Israel FM @Israel_katz. Shared our concern at the developments yesterday. Discussed the larger regional situation. Agreed to stay in touch.”
A violent conflict raging in Gaza between Israel and the terrorist organisation Hamas is the backdrop to the tensions between Iran and Israel. Over 33,000 people have died in the six-month-old conflict, which was started by Hamas’s unexpected onslaught on Israel on October 7 of last year.
