Iran's Foreign Minister confirms that the crew members of a seized cargo ship will be released in the near future.

New Delhi: In a recent conversation over the phone, Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian assured Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel that the 16 Indian crew members still on board a cargo ship seized by Iran will be released soon. This comes as a relief for the crew members who have been stranded for weeks now.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Abdollahian stated that the humanitarian issue of the crew's release is a top priority for them. They have already announced consular access, release, and extradition to the Indian ambassadors in Tehran. The cargo ship, MSC Aries, which carries the Portuguese flag, was seized by Iran, causing tension between the two countries.

Last week, one of the 17 Indian crew members, Deck Cadet Ann Tessa Joseph, was able to return home. This was after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Abdollahian about the matter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee not only works within the country, but also outside, as seen in this situation.

Joseph, who hails from Kerala's Thrissur, arrived at the Cochin International Airport on April 18. The Ministry of External Affairs has been in constant communication with both the Iranian authorities and the Indian crew members and their families. This has provided some comfort to the crew members and their loved ones.

EA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the crew members' return depends on some technicalities and contractual obligations that need to be fulfilled first. The Indian government had requested consular access for the crew members, and they were able to meet with them. The crew members are reported to be in good health and not facing any problems on the ship.

As for their return, Jaiswal stated that there are certain technicalities and contractual obligations that need to be fulfilled first. Therefore, their return will depend on when these are completed. This statement was made in response to Portugal's new government led by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, who had demanded the immediate release of the MSC Aries ship, which is currently trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Portuguese Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian Ambassador in Lisbon on April 16 and demanded the release of the crew members. They also emphasized the importance of treating them with dignity while the ship remains imprisoned. They stated that the explanations provided by Iran so far are not considered consistent. With the recent assurance from the Iranian Foreign Minister, the crew members and their families can hope for a speedy resolution to this issue.

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