Indian Woman, Part Of Seized Cargo Ship's Crew, Returns Home From Iran

Indian deck cadet, Ann Tessa Joseph, who was among the 17 crew members of the Israeli-linked cargo ship — MSC Aries — seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz last week, has safely returned home.

With the combined efforts of Indian Mission in Tehran and Iranian government, the Indian sailor — hailing from Kerala’s Thrissur — landed safely at Cochin International Airport on Thursday afternoon, the Ministry of External Affairs said, adding that she was received by the Regional Passport Officer.

Indian Mission in Tehran is in constant touch with the remaining 16 Indian crew members of the container vessel. They are all in good health and in contact with their respective families in India.

MEA also noted that the Indian Mission is in contact with the Iranian authorities in ensuring the well being of the rest of the MSC Aries’ crew members.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took to X to hail the Indian embassy in Iran and expressed happiness over Joseph’s return.

“#ModiKiGuarantee always delivers, at home or abroad,” he added.

Government sources had told CNN-News18 that 17 Indian nationals were among the crew on board the Israeli-linked cargo ship that was seized by the Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

MSC Aries was en route to the port of Nhava Sheva in India’s Mumbai and the expected arrival was on the night of April 15.

The seizing came amid the growing tensions between Iran and Israel after the latter’s alleged strike on the former’s consulate in Syria’s Damascus earlier this month.

In response to the seizing of the ship, Israel issued a warning to Iran and said that it would face “consequences” for escalating the conflict in the region.

The United States also had condemned the Iranian seizure of the ‘British-owned ship’. White House spokesperson Adrienne Watson called on Iran to release the vessel and the crew, stating, “Seizing a civilian vessel without provocation is a blatant violation of international law, and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.”

She also took to X and said, “We strongly condemn the Iranian seizure of the Portuguese flagged, British-owned MSC AIRES in international waters. The crew is comprised of Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian & Estonian nationals. We call on Iran to release the vessel & its international crew immediately.”

MSC Aries is a Portugese-flagged container ship associated with London-based Zodiac Maritime, which is a part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group.

The container vessel was last located off Dubai heading toward the Strait of Hormuz on April 12 and has turned off its tracking data.

Iranian authorities had confirmed that Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commandos have taken over the vessel and are redirecting it to Iranian waters.

“A container ship named ‘MCS Aries’ was seized by the Sepah (Guards) Navy Special Forces by carrying out a heliborne operation near the Strait Of Hormuz. This ship has now been directed towards the territorial waters” of Iran,” the IRNA state news agency said citing the IRGC.