Iran releases impounded oil tanker's Indian crewmen, grants consular access to others

After impounding two oil tankers for legal violations in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has released a number of the crewmen and has granted consular access to other remaining crew members.

India's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday the release of the Panama-flagged MT Riah oil tanker's 12 Indian crewmen. The vessel was apprehended by Iranian authorities on July 14.

The vessel was detained for smuggling contraband fuel out of the country, a claim that was later confirmed by Panama's maritime authority.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also announced that it had granted crewmen of the impounded British-flagged Stena Impero access to their respective consular representatives.

The Stena Impero was impounded by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) last week for numerous violations of international maritime regulations when it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The British-flagged vessel has 23 crew members, 18 of which were from India. The other crew members are from Russia, Latvia and the Philippines.

Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Vellamvelly Muraleedharan published images on Thursday showing Indian consular officials meeting with the vessel's crew.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has said that crew members belonging to other nationalities are also due to meet their consular representatives soon.

Shipping firm Stena Bulk, owner of the impounded vessel, also made contact with the ship's master on Tuesday, saying that the crewmembers were safe and that there had been good co-operation with the Iranians. The crew had also spoken to their families.

SS