Ann Tessa Joseph, the Indian sailor recently freed from the seized MSC Aries ship in Iran, has expressed her gratitude to the Indian External Affairs Ministry for their efforts in securing her release. In a statement, Joseph thanked various individuals and organizations for their support during her ordeal, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the incident and the positive treatment she received from her temporary captors.
“I have to thank many people. Firstly, I had such an early release because of (the) direct interference of External Affairs Ministry. Not just them… so many people who I don’t know personally worked for this. I want to thank them all,” said Ms. Joseph.
She recounted her experience, noting that despite the tense situation and the seizure of the ship, the crew was treated well by the Iranians, with no harm done to them. She also mentioned that efforts are underway to secure the release of the remaining crew members, indicating that the Indian government is actively involved in resolving the situation.
“The Indian mission in Tehran remains seized of the matter and is in touch with the remaining 16 Indian crew members of the container vessel. The crew members are in good health and in contact with their family members in India,” stated External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
The seizure of the vessel occurred amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East following a missile attack by Iran on Israel. This attack, which Iran claimed was retaliation for an airstrike on its embassy in Syria, raised concerns about potential escalation in the region.
Both sides have been urged to exercise restraint by international leaders, including former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. With the situation still volatile, diplomatic efforts are ongoing to prevent further conflict and ensure the safety of all individuals involved.
Sources By Agencies
