Iran assures release of two Pakistanis stranded on Israeli ship seized near Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s envoy to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moqadam, has assured that the two Pakistani nationals stranded on an Israeli-owned ship seized by Iran will be released after their identities are verified and legal formalities are completed.

The the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) captured an Israeli-owned ship near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday amid escalating tensions following Israel's attack on the Iran's consulate in Damascus on April 

One of the stranded Pakistanis is identified as Muhammad Adnan Aziz, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Israel-linked container ship seized by the Islamic republic. His family reached out to the Pakistan government for assistance.

Iran’s ambassador confirmed that the matter has been communicated to higher authorities in Islamabad and assured that it will be resolved promptly.

Upon hearing about Iran's seizure of the ship near the Strait of Hormuz, the family members of Aziz expressed their concerns and made it clear that Aziz had no connection with the the ongoing conflict or the ownership of the ship.

The Iranian military took control of the vessel and directed it into Iran's territorial waters. The ship, known as the Portugal-flagged MSC Aries, was intercepted 50 nautical miles (92 km) northeast of the UAE’s Fujairah after departing from a port in the UAE on its way to India.

The vessel is owned by Zodiac Maritime Group, headquartered in London, which is a subsidiary of the Zodiac Group owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer and his family.

The ship’s crew comprised 25 members of various nationalities, including Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian, and Estonian nationals. The White House National Security Council and Zodiac Maritime confirmed in their respective statements.

According to Zodiac Maritime, MSC is an Italian-Swiss shipping group, which was responsible for all vessel activities.