Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said the crew of the seized Portuguese-flagged vessel believed to be linked to Israel had been granted consular access and were expected to be released, Reuters reported, citing Iranian media, writes BTA.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized the container ship “MSC Aries“ with a crew of 25 in the Strait of Hormuz on April 13, days after Tehran vowed to retaliate for an alleged Israeli attack on its consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Iran has said it may close this important sea route.
Attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels in solidarity with the Palestinian people in the war between “Hamas” and Israel in the Gaza Strip affected global shipping.
Abdolakhian said in a telephone conversation with his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel that “the humanitarian issue of the release of the ship's crew worries Tehran seriously,” Iranian media reported.
They quoted the foreign minister as saying that the crew members would be handed over to their countries' embassies in Tehran. So far, there is no information on when this will happen.
Iran's Foreign Ministry also said that the ship “Aries“ was seized for “violating maritime laws” and that there is no doubt that he is connected with Israel.
The company "MSC" hired “Aries“ from the company “Gortal Shipping”, which is part of “Zodiac Maritime“, owned in part by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer, Reuters explains.