New Delhi: Four Indian sailors have been arrested in Iran’s oil tanker Grace-1, which was seized by Britain’s Gibraltar. They were later released on bail, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muralidharan said. He said he hoped Indian High Commission officials in London would talk to Indian sailors in the evening.
There are 24 Indian sailors on board. However, it is unclear which of them were arrested. It was also reported that there are three Malayalees on board the ship.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale held discussions with the Iranian ambassador to India regarding the release of sailors from Iran’s seized oil tanker Stena Impero. Minister Muralidharan has said that the Indian Ambassador to Iran is in talks with Iranian Foreign Ministry officials.
Owners of Stena Bulk have denied Iran’s allegation that Stena Impero hit an Iranian fishing boat. Bandar Abbas has requested the port authorities to visit the sailors, but there has been no response.
