The crew, consisting of 25 members, can now return to their respective home countries, according to Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. This move is described as a "humanitarian act," while the ship itself remains under "judicial detention."
The MSC Aries was captured by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) on April 13, shortly after Iran threatened to close the strategic shipping route in response to an alleged Israeli airstrike on its consulate in Damascus. The vessel was detained for allegedly turning off its radar in Iranian territorial waters, compromising navigation security.
Iran has seized several vessels since 2019, which some observers view as a demonstration of its naval power and a means to exert pressure on various governments. The Iranian regime previously cited maritime law violations and the ship's connection to Israel as reasons for its seizure. The MSC Aries is leased by the MSC from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
This incident adds to a series of disruptions in maritime activities, including recent attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. These attacks, purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza, are causing significant disruptions to global shipping operations.