Iran announced today the release of all crew members aboard the MSC Aries, a Portuguese-flagged ship linked to Israel, which was seized by Iranian forces last month. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian confirmed the crew’s release but stated that Iran would retain control of the vessel.
The MSC Aries was commandeered by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on April 13, with a crew of 25 members, including 17 Indians. One Indian crew member had previously been safely repatriated to India.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian described the release of the crew as conducted “with a humane approach,” indicating that they may return to their respective home countries. However, he clarified that the ship would remain under judicial detention.
Israel, India, and the United States have yet to issue official responses to Iran’s announcement. The ship’s seizure occurred less than two weeks after Tehran vowed retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders.
Iranian authorities justified the ship’s seizure, alleging violations of maritime laws. The MSC Aries is leased by Gortal Shipping, a subsidiary of Zodiac Maritime, partially owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. Reports indicate Iranian authorities boarded the vessel via helicopter while it was traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
This incident follows previous seizures by Iran, including the capture of a tanker loaded with oil off the coast of Oman in January. The United States has accused Iran of harassing and attacking numerous internationally flagged merchant ships in recent years, a point of contention before the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East.
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