Jaishankar: India focused on early release of 18 sailors

Chennai: The Centre is in touch with the Iranian authorities for the early release of the 18 Indian crew members of 'Stena Impero' including Adithyaa Vasudevan of Chennai, who were detained by Iran when their British-flagged ship was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Saturday..

Responding to the letter addressed to him by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami earlier in the day, the Union Minister said the Indian sailors were doing well. “We are focussed on the early release & repatriation of all 18 Indian crew members of Stena Impero. Officers of our Embassy in Tehran have met them & they seem to be in good health with adequate supplies. We remain in constant contact with Iranian authorities to resolve this,” Jaishankar tweeted posting a copy of. Palaniswami's letter to him.

Bringing the plight of Adithyaa Vasudevan, aged 27 years, to the attention of Jaishankar, the CM said Adithyaa was taken into custody along with 22 other sailors - 18 of them are Indians, when their ship 'Impero' was detained by the Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

“It is reported that Thiru. Adithyaa Vasudevan, working in the ship “IMPERO” as Third Officer was sailing from Fujairah, UAE to Jubail, Saudi Arabia and was detained on July 19, 2019 along with 22 other Sailors at Strait of Hormuz by Iran's Revolutionary Guards. The father of Thiru. Adithyaa Vasudevan has represented to the Government of Tamil Nadu for his early release and repatriation.

I request your good office to direct the authorities concerned and secure the immediate release and repatriation of Thiru. Adithyaa Vasudevan and other sailors to India,” the CM has urged in the letter to Jaishankar, who hails from Tamil Nadu.