The deputy director of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Authority introduced that the crew members of the captured Portuguese-flagged container ship MSC Aries have been “in good well being.”
The ship is related to an Israeli-owned firm and was seized by the Revolutionary Guards within the Strait of Hormuz on April 13 amid heightened tensions with Israel.
Ali Akbar Marzban claimed that “all 24 crew members of the ship are in good well being and haven’t any issues relating to their well being, hygiene, welfare or security.” One feminine crew member from India, who was initially a part of the crew, was allowed to return dwelling.
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian advised Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel that consular entry had been granted and the crew members can be launched quickly and handed over to the ambassador in Tehran. .
The IRGC claims the MSC Aries violated maritime regulation and blames the ship’s seizure on its ties to arch-enemy Israel. The ship is reportedly being leased by MSC from Gotal Shipping, which is related to Zodiac Maritime, which is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
The seizure comes on the identical day that Iran carried out its first direct assault on Israel and comes at a time of heightened tensions within the area following an alleged Israeli airstrike in Damascus in early April. Ta.
The incident occurred within the midst of the Gaza battle, which Iran-backed Hamas started on October 7, and paralleled the Red Sea blockade by Iran-backed Houthis that started in November to drive Israel right into a cease-fire.
Since then, Houthi militias, underneath the course of Iran’s Supreme Leader, have attacked Israeli ships underneath relentless Israeli shelling to crush Hamas and free the remaining 133 hostages nonetheless held in Gaza. We began the lockdown, nevertheless it additionally prolonged to worldwide delivery.
In November, the Galaxy Leader grew to become the primary ship to be taken hostage by the Houthis, who’re nonetheless holding 25 crew members from all over the world hostage.