Indian crew member of vessel seized by Iran returns home

An Indian woman who was a crew member on the MSC Aries container vessel seized by Iran on 13 April has returned home, India’s Foreign Ministry said today according to Reuters.

The ministry said that its mission in Tehran is in touch with 16 other Indian crew members still aboard the vessel which was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz.

Indian deck cadet Ms. Ann Tessa Joseph from Thrissur, Kerala, a member of the crew on vessel MSC Aries returned home today. @India_in_Iran, with the support of Iranian authorities, facilitated her return. Mission is in touch with Iranian side to ensure the well being of the… pic.twitter.com/iE932Y4F4y

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 18, 2024

“The crew members are in good health and in contact with their family members in India,” the ministry said in a statement.

The vessel was seized days after Tehran vowed to retaliate for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on 1 April.

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian this week seeking the release of the Indian crew members.

READ: Iranian navy commandos seize Israeli ship in Strait of Hormuz