India expresses its concerns to Iran over detention of MT Desh Shanti

In an attempt to end the stalemate over detention of an Indian oil tanker by Iranian authorities at Bandar Abbas port, Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh met Iranian Ambassador at the South Block here on Tuesday, and conveyed India's strong concerns and expressed hope that the ship would be released at an early date.

"Foreign Secretary today met the Iranian Ambassador in South Block. This was the second meeting since MT Desh Shanti was detained by Iranian authorities. The last such meeting took place on August 16. Foreign Secretary has conveyed Government of India's strong concerns at the continued detention of our ship in port Bandar Abbas," said MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

"The Government of India's expectation is that the ship would be released at an early date was also conveyed and that the crew members would be treated with all due consideration and courtesy in keeping with international norms was emphasized. Officials of both sides will make another effort to resolve this issue amicably," he added.

There has so far been no breakthrough on the issue of detention of an Indian tanker by Iranian authorities at Bandar Abbas port.

MT Desh Shanti, an oil tanker belonging to the country's largest ocean liner SCI was detained by Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on August 12 in Persian Gulf and taken to Bandar Abbas port while carrying crude from Basrah in Iraq.