The owners of Stena Impero, a British-flagged oil tanker seized by Iran this month, said on Saturday that Indian, Russian and Philippine embassy officials met crew members from their respective countries and reported that they were in good health.
"We hope this situation can be resolved swiftly and will continue to hold an open dialogue with all involved governments and authorities to secure the release of the crew and vessel," Stena Bulk and Northern Marine Management said in a statement.
The Stena Impero was detained by Iran from the Strait of Hormuz on July 19 in apparent retaliation for the British capture of an Iranian tanker two weeks earlier.
Eighteen of the 23 crew onboard 'Stena Impero' are Indians and three are Keralites.
Diplomatic-level talks are on to release the tanker.
All three Keralites on board 'Stena Impero are from Ernakulam district.
Two of them have ben identified as Dijo Pappachan, 26, of Kalamassery in Kochi and chief engineer Siju V Shenoy from Thrippunithura.
The third Malayali is reportedly from Fort Kochi.
A video clip from the vessel released by Iran's state TV showed the crew members, including Dijo, on the ship.
The seizure of the 'Stena Impero' in the Strait of Hormuz - the world's most important waterway for the oil trade - has deepened a crisis between Tehran and the West that was triggered in May when Washington tightened sanctions, effectively barring all countries from buying Iranian oil.
Britain called on Iran on Monday to release the tanker and its crew immediately, describing the seizure as illegal.
Meanwhile, Iran had released 9 out of 12 Indians who were on board the ship MT Riah on Thursday. The ship was detained in early July.
Currently, 21 Indians are still in detention in Iran - three from MT Riah and 18 from the Stena Impero. Also, 24 Indian crew members, who were on board shipping vessel 'Grace 1', which was detained by British marines and Gibraltar police authorities, are also under detention.
The boats have been seized amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the US since Washington began reimposing sanctions on Tehran.
Indian officials have met the 24 Indian crew members who were on board shipping vessel 'Grace 1' and assured them that the government will take necessary steps to ensure their release and repatriation, the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.
(With inputs from Reuters)
