Iran said, yesterday that the Indian crew of a Portuguese flagged ship that was seized by Iranian forces in its maritime territory two weeks ago is being granted consular access. A statement from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that they are considering the release of the ship’s crew as a humanitarian issue. Earlier on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there are certain technicalities involved in the return of the remaining 16 Indian crew members. Mr Jaiswal said Indian officials had met the crew and are in constant touch with their families.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard Earlier this month seized the Israeli-affiliated, Portuguese-flagged , a container ship as a result of a series of attacks between Iran and Israel.