Iran releases 13 UAE fishermen

TEHRAN,June 23(MNA) – Iran has released 13 fishermen it had detained from two United Arab Emirates vessels that crossed into the Iranian territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, the Khaleej Times on Saturday quoted an Iranian official on the Abu Musa Island as saying. The 12 Emirati nationals and one Indian national, arrested close to the Abu Musa Island, were transferred to a military dock on June 20, Press TV quoted base commander Colonel Ali Vesali as saying. “The (Iranian) forces at Abu Musa Marine Patrol Base detected two intruding UAE vessels while fishing in the Persian Gulf waters and issued the order for capturing them,” Vesali said. Khaleej Times tried to contact both the Iranian consul-general in Dubai and the ambassador in Abu Dhabi, but officials said they were not available for comment. The Abu Musa Island official, who did not wish to be identified, said the boat seized belonged to an Emirati, identified as Mohammed Jaafar. “The fishermen, set free on Friday afternoon, are now heading to the UAE coasts after signing a declaration to the Iranian authorities never to breach the Island’s territorial waters.” Some of the residents on the Island said the detainees were on a fishing trip six nautical miles off the Abu Musa Island. The residents there said Iranian marine forces swiftly took action if any fishermen or boats came closer than six or seven miles from the island.