ISLAMABAD – On Tuesday, the Iranian government granted permission for the two Pakistanis on an Israeli vessel to return to their home country, as reported by diplomatic sources.
As reported, Iran allowed the freedom of Pakistani prisoners after the Foreign Office’s intervention. It is mentioned that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, confirmed the release during a meeting at the FO.
The sources further stated that Iran communicated the clearance for Pakistani individuals to return to their homeland. Moreover, the captain of the vessel has the authority to disembark whenever his crew permits.
Two crew members from Pakistan were part of the 25-person team on the cargo ship captured by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite force that recently lost seven members including two generals in Syria. This incident occurred near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.
Following this event, the family of one of the Pakistani nationals onboard the container ship with ties to Israel reached out to the Pakistani government for assistance. Among those on the seized vessel was Muhammad Adnan Aziz, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Portugal-flagged MSC Aries, along with another Pakistani crew member.
His family resides in both Karachi and Azad Kashmir, while some of his relatives are in London, expressing their concerns through the media. In response to escalating tensions in the area, Iran took control of a ship following a tragic Israeli assault on Iran’s consulate in Syria, which resulted in the loss of senior IRGC commander Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi.
What happened with India-bound vessel?
The ship, known as the Portuguese MSC Aries, had set sail from a UAE harbor and was heading towards India. It is associated with the London-based Zodiac Maritime, a subsidiary of the Zodiac Group owned by Israeli tycoon Eyal Ofer and his family.
Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, stated that the crew members were from various nationalities, including India, the Philippines, Pakistan, Russia, and Estonia. She also opposed the vessel’s seizure. Videos from the ship’s deck displayed soldiers descending from a helicopter. The helicopter seemed to be a Soviet-designed Mil Mi-17, which is operated by the naval forces of the IRGC.
Zodiac Maritime announced that MSC, a prominent Italian-Swiss shipping organization, is in charge of managing all operations related to the vessel. MSC issued a statement, confirming there were 25 crew members on board and mentioned their ongoing collaboration with the appropriate authorities to guarantee the crew’s well-being and the safe return of the ship.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a vessel was taken over by regional authorities approximately 50 nautical miles (92km) northeast of Fujairah, a crucial waterway for global trade.
