Jaishankar speaks to Iranian FM on release of 17 Indians onboard seized vessel | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar on Sunday said that he spoke to his Iranian counterpart amid escalating violence in the Middle East after Iran launched an extensive assault with hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.

Jaishankar in a tweet said that he took up the issue of 17 Indian crew members of cargo ship MSC Aries with Iran foriegn minister H Amirabdollahian.

“Spoke to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran H.Amirabdollahian this evening. Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy,” Jaishankar wrote on X.

On Saturday, 17 Indians among the 25-member crew of MSC Aries was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized the Israeli-linked cargo ship, days after Tehran said it could close the crucial shipping route and warned it would retaliate for an Israeli strike on its Syria consulate.

Meanwhile, in response to the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Sunday issued a statement expressing serious concern over the potential threat to regional peace and security. “We are seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security in the region,” the MEA said in the statement.

The ministry called for an immediate de-escalation of the situation, emphasizing the importance of exercising restraint and refraining from further violence. Stressing the need for diplomacy to prevail, India urged both parties to step back from confrontation and seek peaceful resolutions to their differences.