All 24 Indian crew members aboard seized Iranian ship released

All 24 Indian crew members on board the seized Iranian ship 'Grace 1' have been released by Gibraltar authorities and are free to return to India, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Thursday.

"Spoke to our High Commission @HCI_London on VLCC Grace 1. They confirmed all 24 Indian crew aboard VLCC Grace 1 have been released by Gibraltar authorities and are free to return to India. @narendramodi @PMOIndia @AmitShah @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @VMBJP," Muraleedharan tweeted.

Grace 1, an Iranian vessel, was detained by British Marines and Gibraltar authorities on July 4, on the suspicion of violating European Union sanctions on oil shipments to Syria. The maritime seizure had led to an international uproar and deepened tensions in the Persian Gulf.