EXCLUSIVE: Indians onboard MSC Aries free to go, says Iran Ambassador Iraj Elahi

The Iranian ambassador to IndiaIraj Elahihas said that the Indian nationals onboard MSC Aries are free to go. The Israel-linked Portuguese flag was seized by Iran over the weekend and had 17 Indian crew members on board. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, the ambassador said, "From the Iranian side, they are free and not detained. Yesterday, the lady was handed over to the consulate. Consulate got access to other crew." With the concerted efforts of the Indian Mission in Tehran and the Iranian Government, Indian deck cadet Ann Tessa Joseph from Thrissur, Kerala, who was among the Indian crew members of container vessel MSC Aries, has landed safely at the Cochin International Airport today afternoon.

The ambassador also spoke on the current situation in West Asia. He said, "Iran is not hesitating to defend its security, sovereignty, its national interest. So they have no choice but to defend our national interest and security and send a strong message to Israel that you had passed the red line". He pointed out that the United Nations Security Council "denied" condemning the attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria and that is why "Iran had no choice just to use its right to defend its national interest".

WION: What is the current situation in West Asia?
Iraj Elahi: The situation is not good. Israel has targeted Gaza for more than seven months. Every day it is targeting residential places, buildings, and hospitals. Nothing, no hospital, no residential areas, no school, nothing is safe from the attacks, from the military operation of Israel. More than 37,000 Innocent people have been killed and more than 100,000 are injured. So it's a massacre, this massacre has consequences in all the region. The people, the Muslim people, Christian people, and even Jewish people are not satisfied with the situation in West Asia. You have been witnessing that in Yemen. Houthis are attacking and targeting Israel to support Palestinians. There are clashes between Hezbollah and Israel. And then Israel is attacking the territory of Lebanon. So besides this, Israel has targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which according to international law and diplomatic relations has safety and should be immune from any attack, any military operation. So the activity and operation of Israel in the region has caused too much difficulty in the region. This is beside other terrorist operations of Israel, all over the region. You know, Israel has targeted many people in Lebanon, has targeted assassinated many people, and many are Iranian scientists and Iranian military advisors in Syria. So the situation, because of the manner and behaviour of Israel, is not good.

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WION: So just talking about the last few weeks, when there was an attack on your consulate in Damascus, and then thereafter the strikes by Iran over the weekend. Now, are you looking towards de-escalation in the region? Do you think that tensions will go down?
Iraj Elahi: We hope so, you know, Israel, directly targeted the Iranian consulate, you know, according to International Law a consulate is the territory of Iran. So it means that it has targeted Iranian territory. Iran does not hesitate to defend its security, sovereignty, its national interest. So they have no choice but to defend our national interest and security and send a strong message to Israel that you had passed red line. Miscalculation has consequences and anyone who makes any wrong step has to pay the heavy cost of this. So we are retaliatory operation was accomplished, and completed, and the hope that Israel has received the message and will not continue its irrational manner. So the hope is that both sides will go forward to the de-escalation. We are not going or we are not considering expansion of clashes. We are insisting that it is it was just a retaliatory attack.

WION: So will Iran counter retaliate if there is a strike by the Israelis now? It looks from the reports coming that they are looking to make strikes in Iran.
Iraj Elahi: I assure you that any military action against Iran, against the territory of Iran, against the national interest of Iran will be responded to by Iranian military forces, and maybe more stronger, stronger strike.

WION: Reports that they could look to make strikes on Iranian nuclear installations. What do you have to say about that?
Iraj Elahi: This question has two aspects. First of all, you know, according to many rules of IAEA and international law, nuclear infrastructure should be safe, and should not be targeted by a military operation. If Israel does this, it is another invasion of the International law of Israel. This is one point. The second aspect is that, Israel has claimed and warned about such an operation against Iranian nuclear facilities. We are retaliating with a very strong response.

WION: So over the weekend, when you made the retaliatory strikes, it said by leadership that you had informed the American side 72 hours earlier that you were going to do the strikes. But Washington says that they weren't informed. So what is the status?
Iraj Elahi: Mostly any military operation should be done Suddenly. Our supreme leader, our president, and our military commanders warned Israel that we would retaliate. We targeted just the military infrastructure or capabilities of Israel. We did not want to impose human casualties on Israel. We did not want that. We just wanted to damage and harm the Israeli military capabilities. And you know, according to what they are saying, of course, they are trying to downgrade the extent of the damages. They not allowing journalists to make a report about the damages and the places which were targeted by Iranian missiles, but they are saying that there are no casualties, at least human casualties but the damages to their infrastructure according to our calculation should be big.

WION: Could Iranian counterstrikes have been prevented if there had been widespread condemnation of the attack on your consulate? I'm asking this because a long time ago, Iranian diplomats lost their lives in Afghanistan when there was an attack but at that time, the UNSC came out with a statement condemning it. This time it looks like the UNSC also was hesitant to condemn this attack.
Iraj Elahi: If the United Nations Security Council entered the game, precisely and timely, there would not be such a situation. After the strike of Israel on our consulate, Iran approached the United Nations, approached the United Nations Security Council and sent a message to different sides that Israel has done this, has violated international law and should be condemned. But the USA, France and England as permanent members of the Security Council hesitated and refused to condemn this. When you see such shortcomings, when you see such indifference, what can Iran do just to defend, you know, international United Nations Security Council is an institute to save and support international security if it cannot do its business. So states have to defend their national interests. So Iran had no choice but to use its right to defend its national interest.

WION: Have you reached out to SCO, BRICS?
Iraj Elahi: SCO NSAs condemned the attack. In Brics, our FM was in touch with the FMs of Russia, and India bilaterally.

WION: Can Iran tell Hamas has engaged with them to release the hostages?
Iraj Elahi: You know, since the beginning of the clashes, new clashes new round of clashes between Israel and Hamas, the clear clearly and explicitly declared that Hamas is an independent resistance group. We are in good relation with them but we are not the who is ordering. Since the beginning, we have asked them to de-escalate. But Israel, Israel did not pay any attention.

WION: How do u see India's position amid the conflict
Iraj Elahi: We have very good relations with India. Most foreign minister are not only good counterpart, they are good friends. You know, during the recent months, they had many telephonic conversations for about different issues. Few days back, both foreign ministers had a good telephone conversation. The Indian side shared the position of India, and Iranian side, shared the new current development and also they talk about the Indian seamen who are in the ship on board a vessel in the Persian gulf.

WION: Do you see Indian role in de-escalation because India has good relationships with both Tehran and with Israel and that day itself, the Indian External Affairs Minister also spoke to the Israeli Foreign Minister
Iraj Elahi: India as a big country, as an important player of international affairs and India claims that it is voice of south, can play an important role, can play a constructive role. We have emphasized that India can play a constructive role since the beginning of Gaza, Israel tension, and clashes and we hope that by support of India, there would there will be de-escalation.

WION: You also mentioned about the situation of the sea men on board MSC Aries. So what's the status like?
Iraj Elahi: You know, we officially said that they are not detained. Indian and not only Indian all the crew are not detained. And yesterday, one lady, one Indian lady was among the crew and released it. In fact, all our free but we help them, help the Indian consulate to approach the vessel. This lady handed over to Indian consulate and I think that lady is now in India. So others are free but they are on board the vessel. They are under the command of the captain. The captain is responsible for them and who can allow them to leave. They are not our detainees.

WION: So they can come to India?
Iraj Elahi: They can come to India

WION: So Indian nationals are free from the Iranian side?
Iraj Elahi: From the Iranian side, they are free and not detained. Yesterday, the lady was handed over to the consulate. The consulate got access to other crew.

WION: How do u see India, Iran relationship?
Iraj Elahi: You know, regarding the Indian-Iran relation, we have been together.
We were neighbours before the division of India. So they have been together. We believe that nothing can separate these two nations, these two old nations. This is despite the sanctions. We trying to save the relationship. India of course is not buying Iranian oil. Oil plays important role in ties. But we are still trying to work with India in different fields. We are importing pharmaceutical, we are importing of agricultural products. We are serious about expanding relations with India. In the energy field, in field of agriculture in the field of science and technology in the field, in different fields. And we believe that India as a developing countries but very advanced, advanced compared into many developing or underdeveloped countries, has too many things to give to Iran or Iran also have something. Both economies are complementary. Regarding, Chabahar, has three main dimensions, strategic, legal, and technical. Strategically, both sides have agreed to implement. Connectivity is the backbone of ties. Legally, it's a long-term contract, so all differences should be resolved. Technically, we have good progress, very soon it will signed. India is busy with elections.

WION: Are we looking at trading in national currencies as well?
Iraj Elahi: We have approached, RBI, and govt of India. You know, Iran was the first country who who agreed with India to trade with national currencies. you're aware that many countries have signed an agreement with India to trade with India tried with the national currencies, but unfortunately, there is some technical issues which prevent implementing this agreement. We hope that of course, we hope we try to continue our negotiation with India and after election. We hope that there should be some the door will be open