Kerala woman returns home as India seeks release of other 16 crew members aboard MSC Aries seized by Iran

Days after Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar spoke with his Iranian counterpart Amir Abdollahian, a Kerala native and the sole woman among 17 Indians aboard an Israeli-affiliated container ship seized by Iran's militarysafely landed at theCochin International Airport on Thursday (Apr 18).

Notably, the ship MSC Aries was seized near the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman by Iran's Revolutionary Guards on April 13, after which India engaged with Iranian authorities to seek the safety and release of the 17 Indian nationals aboard the vessel.

The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed her safe return in an official statement.

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"With the concerted efforts of Indian Mission in Tehran and the Iranian Government, Indian deck cadet Ms. 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 afteranoon. At the airport, Ms. Joseph was received by the Regional Passport Officer, Cochin," the MEA said in a press release.

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The ministry also assured that the Indian Mission in Tehran "remains seized of the matter and is in touch with the remaining 16 Indian crew members of the container vessel. The crew members are in good health and in contact with their family members in India."

This comes astensions in West Asia have been escalating after the Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria and the retaliatory attacks by Tehran.

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The family of the Kerala native had expressed concern in a televised video. The matter was subsequently addressed by the State Chief Minister's Office, which intervened after receiving information about her presence on the vessel.

Jaishankar presses Iran for release of Indian nationals

Jaishankar, while earlier speaking on the seizure of MSC Aries, a Portuguese-flagged ship, said, "It was taken over by an Iranian force. The ship was then made to proceed towards Iran … I spoke with my Iranian counterpart, I pressed him, I said there are 17 crew members from India and we are making the point to the Iranian government that these people should be released and they should not be detained."

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Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, the external affairs minister added, “After that there had been some follow-up conversations between our Embassy and the Iranian authorities … For me the first point is, I want our Embassy people to actually go there and meet these people, that will be my first point of satisfaction. Secondly, I will absolutely press for these people to come back to India as quickly as we can… My Iranian counterpart was quite responsive in this.”

(With inputs from agencies)