- By Shivam Shandilya
- Sat, 13 Apr 2024 08:32 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Seventeen Indians are on board an Israeli-linked container ship that has been seized by the Iranian military. The development comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel.
According to news agency PTI, quoting official sources, India is in touch with Iranian authorities through diplomatic channels, both in Tehran and in Delhi, to ensure the welfare and early release of the Indian nationals. The action by Iran comes as the increase that Tehran may launch an attack on Israeli soil in retaliation to a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria 12 days ago.
"We are aware that a cargo ship 'MSC Aries' has been taken control by Iran. We have learnt that there are 17 Indian nationals onboard," said a source.
"We are in touch with the Iranian authorities through diplomatic channels, both in Tehran and in Delhi, to ensure security, welfare and early release of Indian nationals," it said.
According to media reports, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards seized MSC Aries on Saturday morning when it was sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The MSC Aries was last seen on Friday, sailing towards the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Dubai, according to The Times of Israel. The ship is currently sailing through the Persian Gulf, according to the ship tracking site, Marine Traffic.
Amid fears of the ongoing hostilities in Gaza devolving into a larger Middle-Eastern conflict, US President Joe Biden said earlier today that he expects Iran to attack Israel 'sooner than later'.
"I don't want to get into secure information but my expectation is sooner than later," Biden told reporters when asked how imminent an Iranian attack on Israel would be.
The US has been on high alert for a significant Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel in recent days, as fears grow of a wider regional war. The US and several other countries, including India, Britain, and France, issued new travel guidelines for government employees in Israel as the Iranian threat loomed.
(With input from agencies)