India has called on Iran to release 17 Indian crew members on board a container ship seized by Iran on Saturday.
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that he spoke to his Iranian counterpart Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and 'took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries.'
Four Filipino seamen were also on board the ship, according to the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers.
The department said it was working with its government, the ship owner, and the operator to release the captured seafarers.
On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized an Israeli-linked container ship in a helicopter operation near the Strait of Hormuz, state news agency IRNA reported.
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said there were 25 crew members on board.
