Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 18: India will continue to press Iranian authorities to grant early consular access to 16 Indian crew members of a commercial vessel detained last month, the Indian Embassy in Tehran said on Saturday.

According to the embassy, it was informed in mid-December about the detention of the vessel, MT Valiant Roar, with Indian nationals onboard. The Consulate of India in Bandar Abbas immediately wrote to the Iranian government on December 14, seeking consular access to the crew.

The embassy said the request has since been reiterated multiple times through diplomatic correspondence as well as in-person meetings in Bandar Abbas and Tehran, including at the ambassadorial level. It noted that while the matter is expected to be subject to judicial proceedings in Iran, India continues to push for early consular access and the expeditious completion of the legal process.

The Iranian authorities have also been urged to allow the detained crew to communicate with their families in India.

The Indian Consulate in Bandar Abbas established contact with the UAE-based ship-owning company on December 15 and has since remained in touch with its Iran-based agents to ensure the supply of food, water and fuel to the vessel, besides arranging legal representation for the crew in Iranian courts.

The embassy said that after being informed about dwindling food and water supplies onboard, the mission intervened with the Iranian navy in early January to arrange emergency provisions. The Indian Consulate in Dubai has also been pressing the ship-owning company to ensure regular supplies and proper legal assistance for the crew.