Iran frees nine of 13 Indian crew members detained with MT Riah
New Delhi, July 26 (IBNS): Iran has freed nine of 13 Indian crew members who were detained along with ship MT Riah on July 13, Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "MT RIAH was detained along with 12 Indian crew members by the Iranian Coast Guard on 13 July. 9 crew members have been released and they will be on their way to India soon. Our Mission in Iran has requested the concerned Iranian authorities for the release of remaining crew members."
Apart from 13, 18 Indian sailors from British Oil Tanker Stena Impero were seized last week in the Strait of Hormuz.
The External Affairs Ministry has informed that all 18 sailors are "safe" and "doing fine". "Will continue to push for their early release," said Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Twitter.
Received an update on ‘Stena Impero’. Our Embassy availed consular access today evening. All 18 Indian crew members on board are safe and doing fine. Will continue to push for their early release. @narendramodi @PMOIndia @AmitShah @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @VMBJP pic.twitter.com/YqtFupLuZA
— V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) July 25, 2019
The Stena Impero had been heading for Saudi Arabia on Friday when it collided with a fishing vessel, according to authorities at the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, off which the tanker is now anchored.
The vessel had "collided with a fishing boat on its route and, according to law, after an accident it is necessary that the cause of the accident are investigated," said Allah-Morad Afifipoor, director-general of the Hormozgan province port and maritime authority.
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