'Indians should not be detained…': Jaishankar 'presses' Iran to release Indians from seized ship

These people were on a Portugal flag ship. It was the ship was taken over in the seas by the an Iranian force. We are making the the point to the Iranian government that these people should be released, that they should not be detained. Yesterday night I spoke to my Iranian counterpart. I pressed him. I said I you know there are 17 crew members from India. You are aware that when we speak about Modi Ki guarantee, Modi Ki guarantee is inside the country. Modi Ki guarantee is outside the country. Whenever any Indian travels abroad, this guarantee, Modi gives. I mean they can take the travel insurance, but they get a free guarantee from Modi, OK? The free guarantee from Modi is whatever trouble you are in, we are there for. So, and we have seen shown it, we have shown it in Ukraine, we showed it in Sudan. We have shown it repeatedly during COVID. Now these people were on a Portugal flag ship. It was the ship was taken over in the seas by the an Iranian force. It is the ship was directed to then proceed to Iran. Yesterday night I spoke to my Iranian counterpart. I pressed him. I said I, you know there are 17 crew members from India and it is, you know, we are making the, the point to the Iranian government that these people should be released, that they should not be detained. So I understand and and after that there have been some follow up conversations between our embassy and the Iranian authorities. I’m getting some reports but for me until first point is I want our embassy people to actually go there and meet these people. That is when I will. That will be my first point of satisfaction. Secondly, I would like you know I I would absolutely press for these people to come back to India as quickly as we can. I am quite, you know, my colleague at least Iranian counterpart was quite responsive. He said OK I understand it, I will try and do something to help you.