Iran's Ambassador in Kenya: 17 Iranian Sailors Detained in Somalia Released

Iran's ambassador in Kenya announced the release of 17 Iranian sailors who had been detained months ago for 'illegal' entry into Somalia. Hadi Farajvand stated this in an interview with ISNA, mentioning that the sailors were freed 'through intensive negotiations with the local government of Puntland via Somali intermediaries.' According to Farajvand, these sailors were released without 'any preconditions' and will 'soon return to Iran via a fishing vessel.' IRNA also reported the release of 10 Iranian sailors who were detained recently for what was described as 'involuntary entry' into Pakistani waters. These individuals returned to Iran on Thursday (June 10). Simultaneously, as the Persian New Year approached, 9 Iranian sailors imprisoned in 'Landi' Karachi, Pakistan, were also released and returned to Iran. In addition to these sailors, at least 44 Iranian sailors are still held by Somali pirates, who, according to the CEO of the Chabahar Fishermen's Cooperative, have demanded $1,500 for the release of each captive fisherman. Ali Afshar had stated in October 2017 that this demand was made despite the fact that 'if we look at the lives of these fishermen, they do not even have $100 to pay.' Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, had also announced on October 19 that the Islamic Republic had expressed its objections to the Somali government through 'existing channels.' Mr. Qasemi promised that the Foreign Ministry would follow up on the status of these sailors. However, since then, the Foreign Ministry has not provided any updates regarding their situation. Somalia is one of the countries that severed diplomatic relations with Iran following the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and recalled its ambassador from Tehran. Accordingly, Hassan Qashqavi, the Deputy Consular Minister, announced that there is no possibility for physical presence in Somalia to follow up on matters concerning Iranian fishermen. In recent years, several Iranian fishermen have been kidnapped by Somali pirates, and reports indicate that some of them have been killed due to 'physical torture' by the pirates. Previously, there have been reports of Iranian fishermen entering the waters of Gulf countries and being detained in past years. For instance, in June of last year, after Saudi forces shot at three Iranian fishing boats, one fisherman was killed and three others were detained. While Iran identifies these individuals as 'fishermen,' Riyadh claims that the detainees are 'members of the Revolutionary Guards' who approached its oil platforms in the Gulf on 'a boat carrying weapons.' Following this incident, fishing activities in Bushehr province were halted for a period until the public relations manager of Bushehr Fisheries announced that two fishermen residing on Khark Island, who were arrested by the Saudi Coast Guard last year, were released on Friday, May 28. Relations between Tehran and Riyadh have soured following the execution of a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia and the attacks on its diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad. Both countries also accuse each other of interfering in their internal affairs and the region.