Following a request of Iranian side, a meeting was
held between Sonowal and Abdollahian where bilateral issues were discussed,
sources privy to the development said. During the meeting, Sonowal requested
Abdollahian to release
all Indian seafarers who are in Iranian custody.
Abdollahian
said Tehran is positive on the release of the Indian seafarers but it is
getting delayed as legal procedures have to be followed, the sources said.
The sources said the Indian seafarers were working in
four ships — Steven, Global Cherylyn, Margol and MSC Aries — which were seized
by Iran over the past eight months on different charges. According to the
sources, Steven was seized by the lranian Coast Guard on September 12, 2023,
for “smuggling” and the crew were also detained.
There
were nine Indian crew members on board and it has come down to six now after
three of them, along side two other nationals, were taken away by Iranian
authorities on April 24 and their whereabouts are still unknown.
Iran is yet to give consular access to the Indian seafarers
of the ship and the Indian Embassy in Tehran is in regular touch with Iranian
authorities, the sources said.
Another ship, Global Cherylyn, was seized on December
11, 2023 at Bandar Abbas with 20 Indian crew members and one Bangladeshi.
Consular access to the crew was given on March 12, 2024. The vessel was seized
on charges of “fuel smuggling”. The issue was raised with the Iranian Embassy
and authorities in Tehran.
According to the latest update, the release orders of
the seafarers have been signed by a local court but final release depends on
the approval of a court in Tehran.
India has requested the Iranian side for the early
release of the remaining Indian crew members of the ship. The Indian embassy is
in touch with Iranian authorities and has requested for second consular access,
the sources said.