Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to EAM S Jaishankar requesting information on 4 Keralites on board British-flagged oil tanker seized by Iran

Expressing concern about the 19 Indians help captive on the British Oil Tanker seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday, has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stating that of the 19 Indians, 4 belong to his state and that any information on their status be shared with his government.

"I request that all possible efforts to ensure the safety of the crew be made and the relevant details of persons may be shared with the State Government so that their family members can be contacted," he writes in the letter.

Here is his letter:

Indians Among 23 Crew Members On UK Tanker Seized By Iran. Read Statement Here

Iran seizes British-flagged Oil Tanker 

Earlier on Saturday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that its navy had captured the British-flagged oil tanker, Stena Impero. The IRGC accused the tanker of "violating international regulations. Iran's Revolutionary Guards added that they had confiscated the British tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz for breaking "international maritime rules".

India demands Iran to release hostages

After learning that nineteen Indian nationals are on board the vessel Stena Impero, the  Indian Mission in Tehran got in touch with the Iranian authorities to ascertain the facts. 
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "We are ascertaining further details. Our Mission is in touch with the Government of Iran to secure the early release and repatriation of Indian nationals."

Iran Denies US Destroyed An Iranian Drone Near Persian Gulf

US-Iran tensions

This attack was a retaliation to U.S. warship destroyed an Iranian drone on Friday near the Persian Gulf - Strait of Hormuz after it threatened the ship. US President Donald Trump confirmed the attack saying that the USS Boxer took defensive action after an Iranian drone closed to within 1,000 yards of the warship and ignored multiple calls to stand down.

Recently, the Persian Gulf region has seen six attacks on oil tankers that the U.S. has blamed on Iran and a tense encounter between Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the British navy. The U.S. has also sent thousands of additional troops and increased its security presence in the region.