New Delhi:

Ann Tessa Joseph, an Indian sailor aboard the MSC Aries who was seized by Iran on April 13 and released this week, thanked the Ministry of External Affairs for ensuring her freedom. She also said the center told her it was “working very hard” to secure the release of her fellow sailors.

“I have to thank a lot of people. First of all, I was released so early thanks to the direct intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It’s not just them… there are a lot of people I don’t know who worked on this. I want to thank them all,” Ms Joseph said at the said in a statement released Friday morning.

She also said that while she “didn’t expect” such an incident to occur, the makeshift kidnappers were very good to her and the crew, allowing them to eat and drink normally and not harming them in any way.

“I didn’t expect an incident like this to happen. I knew there was a war going on…but didn’t expect this. Even though they seized the ship, they treated the crew well. There was no problem with food… We could be in chaos Cook, (but) we have to eat and go back to our cabin.”

“They have no intention of harming the crew. There are four Keralites, including me. There are also 16 Indians now. When they spoke to the consulate yesterday, they were told that they would be released early. The Center is working very hard to ensure that, “she says.

“The only woman out of 25. The only one to come back.”

On Thursday evening, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that Ms Joseph had returned safely and that the government was also working to free the other sailors.

Ms. Ann Tessa Joseph, an Indian deck cadet from Thrissur, Kerala, who is a crew member of MSC Aries, returned home today. @India_in_IranWith the support of the Iranian authorities, she was assisted in returning home. The delegation is in contact with the Iranian side to ensure the well-being of… pic.twitter.com/iE932Y4F4y

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 18, 2024

“The Indian mission in Tehran is still dealing with the matter and is in touch with the remaining 16 Indian crew members on the container ship. The crew members are in good health and are in contact with their families in India.”

Read | A woman who was among the Indian crew members of the ship seized by Iran returns home

After Ms. Joseph arrived in India, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said: “The Indian mission in Iran has done a good job. I am glad that Ms. Antesha Joseph has returned home. Modi’s assurances have remained consistent both at home and abroad.”

The ship was seized as tensions rose in the Middle East after Iran launched a missile attack on Israel. Tehran launched about 300 missiles in what it said was retaliation for an airstrike on its embassy in Damascus, Syria.

Read | Israel uses multi-layered shields to deter Iranian attacks.how it works

Iran said this morning it had activated its air defense systems as the region now awaits a second Israeli attack. There had been unconfirmed reports that Israel had launched an air strike; Iran’s official broadcaster said explosions were heard near the central city of Isfahan.

Read | Iran shoots down multiple drones, U.S. officials suspect Israel

Iran claimed to have shot down several drones, but “there have been no missile attacks so far.”

According to Agence France-Presse, after the explosion in Iran, the Israeli military said it had “no comment at this time.”

Earlier this week, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told New Delhi TV that he had been urging Israel to show restraint in the wake of Iranian attacks and considered the nearly 99% interception rate a victory in itself.

NDTV Exclusive | ‘Iran humiliated, no reaction needed’: Former Israeli PM

Iran urged Israel to think twice before carrying out retaliatory strikes. The United Nations also warned the international community against escalation. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council that “neither the region nor the world can afford more wars.”

According to the opinion of the institution

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