Iran promises Indian officials can meet with 17 detained Indian crew members ‘soon’

Iran allows Indian officials to meet detained crew members from seized ship, discussed regional tensions with India's External Affairs Minister.

Iran said that it will allow Indian officials to meet with the 17 Indian crew members detained after its forces seized an Israel-linked ship MSC Aries “soon” after the issue was raised by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who spoke to Foreign Ministers of both Iran and Israel on Sunday night.

In a readout of the conversation between Mr. Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian released on Monday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that they had discussed Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israel in what it called a response to Israel’s attack on the Iranian embassy on April 1 in which 7 Iranian diplomats and commanders died, as well as the situation in Gaza, and Red Sea. 

In a post about his conversation earlier, Mr. Jaishankar said that he had taken up the release of the Indian crew members during his conversation and also discussed the strikes. 

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“Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch,” he wrote on a social media platform.

“Dr. Amir Abdollahian mentioned that they are following up on the details related to the detained ship and the possibility of representatives of the Indian government meeting with the crew of the mentioned ship will be provided soon,” a translated version of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said. 

Mr. Jaishankar said that he had also shared India’s “concern at the developments”, indicating Iran’s drone and missile attacks, with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.