Iran ‘frees’ Pakistanis aboard seized Israeli cargo ship

ISLAMABAD: The Iranian government Tuesday allowed the two Pakistanis aboard an Israeli ship to return to Pakistan, diplomatic sources told Geo News.

According to the sources, Iran permitted the release of Pakistani captives following efforts by the Foreign Office.

They added that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam assured the release of both Pakistanis. The Iranian ambassador made the assurance in a meeting at the FO. “Iran has informed that Pakistani personnel are free to return home,” the sources said, adding that the captain of the ship has the power to disembark whenever his crew allows.

At least two Pakistanis, among the 25-member crew, were on board the cargo ship seized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.

The development came after the family of one of the Pakistani nationals onboard the Israel-linked container ship asked the Government of Pakistan for help.

Muhammad Adnan Aziz — the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Portugal-flagged MSC Aries — was on the ship seized by Iran’s forces, along with another Pakistani.

The vessel was seized by Iran amid rising tensions across the region after a deadly Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria, killing senior IRGC commander Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi.