Officials in Iran’s southern Hormuzgan province have announced the release of an Indian female crew member of an Israel-linked ship seized by the IRGC last week. The Indian woman has been handed over to the country’s consulate in Hormuzgan, Hossein Abbasnejad, the director-general of the Ports and Maritime Department of the province, said on Thursday. Since the Islamic Republic of Iran abides by international conventions on maritime rights as well as moral values of the holy religion of Islam, its Foreign Ministry coordinated with Indian diplomats in Iran to pave the way for the female crew member’s release, he added. On 13 April, the Special Naval Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) seized the Portuguese-flagged MCS Aries ship near the Strait of Hormuz. The Portuguese-flagged vessel is operated by the Zodiac Maritime Shipping Company, which is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan