ISLAMABAD: In response for Israel’s attack on its consulate in Damascus earlier this month, Iran has authorized the release of Pakistani nationals who were on board a Portuguese-flagged container ship that Iranian forces had detained in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to diplomatic sources, Pakistani individuals on board the MSC Aries, which Tehran maintains is connected to Israel, can now be released by the Iranian government, Dawn reported on Tuesday.
The Pakistani nationals were anticipated to be released in the next days, according to sources.
Reuters claims that MSC leased the Aries from Zodiac Maritime affiliate Gortal Shipping. Entrepreneur Eyal Ofer is an Israeli who owns a portion of Zodiac.
The number of Pakistanis on board the detained ship is yet unknown, although media reports claimed that at least one member of the crew, Muhammad Adnan Aziz, the ship’s chief operational officer, was a native of Pakistan.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards boarded the ship in the Strait of Hormuz because they believed it had “violated maritime laws,” and there were at least 25 passengers on board.
The soldiers would probably be released “within the framework of the amicable relations between the two countries,” diplomatic sources told Dawn.
According to Reuters, Portugal’s foreign ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador on Tuesday to request the MSC Aries’ immediate release.
“Will await the results of this formal measure and evaluate any additional steps, depending on those,” the ministry stated in a statement following the meeting.
