Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian assured his counterpart S Jaishankar in their phone conversation that Indian officials will be allowed access to 17 Indian crew members who were detained after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized a cargo vessel for its links with Israel.
Jaishankar had spoken to the Iranian minister to discuss the need for immediate de-escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict. He also sought an early release of the Indian crew members.
“We are monitoring the situation concerning the seized ship, & arrangements will be made for representatives of Indian govt to meet with the crew members of the vessel in question,” said the Iranian minister to Jaishankar, according to a readout released by Iran.
“Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch,” Jaishankar had said in a post on X. He had also spoken to his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz.
According to Iran, Amirabdollahian conveyed to Jaishankar details of Iran’s “legitimate defence and punitive measures against the Israeli regime”, while urging India to play an active role in ending the war in Gaza.
“Amirabdollahian urged India to maintain its role through UNSC to halt the war in Gaza, which lies at the core of current crisis,” said Iran.
In Bengaluru, Jaishankar said he had asked his Israeli and Iranian counterparts to “calm down” and not escalate further. “A large part of our shipping passes through this region and also, oil comes from there. So we are concerned when there is this kind of escalation. Hence, our effort has been to tell both of them to calm down,” the EAM said.
