17 Indians Aboard Ship Seized By Iran Off UAE Coast

New Delhi: Of the 25 crew members aboard the container ship seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards off the UAE coast on Saturday, 17 are Indian, NDTV reported quoting sources.

“We are aware that Iran has taken control of a cargo ship ‘MSC Aries’. We have learnt that there are 17 Indian nationals onboard. We are in touch with the Iranian authorities through diplomatic channels, both in Tehran and in Delhi, to ensure security, welfare and early release of the Indian nationals,” the report added.

The ship’s operator, the Italian-Swiss group MSC, confirmed it had been boarded by Iranian authorities. It said that 25 crew were onboard and that it was “working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure their wellbeing, and safe return of the vessel”.

The container ship, MCS Aries, was seized near the Strait of Hormuz by carrying out a “heliborne operation”, and it is now headed towards the territorial waters of Iran, the country’s state-owned IRNA news agency reported.