TN CM urges Centre to get Indian sailors released from Iran

Chief Minister K Palaniswami Saturday urged the Centre to secure the release of 18 Indian sailors, including one from Tamil Nadu, who were detained by Iran when their British-flagged ship was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Adithyaa Vasudevan, 27, hailing from Chennai and working as a third officer in the vessel, "Impero," was taken into custody by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on July 19, along with 22 other sailors, 18 of whom are Indians, he said in a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

They were detained when their United Kingdom registered ship was sailing from Fujairah, United Arab Emirates to Jubail, Saudi Arabia, Palaniswami said.

Vasudevan's father has represented to the government seeking his early release and repatriation.

"I request your good office to direct the authorities concerned and secure the immediate release and repatriation of Adithyaa Vasudevan and other sailors to India," the Chief Minister said.

The narrow Strait of Hormuz is considered strategic linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman and is widely used for ferrying oil cargo.

Lately, there have been media reports of Iran allegedly seizing vessels transiting the channel trigerring tension between it and western nations.