Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo has asked for the release of 18 Filipino seafarers currently aboard a detained vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
Manalo made the request during a meeting with Iran’s 1st Vice President Mohammed Makber at the sideline of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Uganda.
Makber is one of the 12 vice presidents of Iran. He leads the Islamic Republic’s Cabinet meetings.
“I likewise asked for the release of the 18 (Filipino) seafarers currently aboard the detained ST Nikolas, and requested that Iran continue to grant consular access to our Embassy in Tehran, and allow regular contact between the seafarers and their families back home,” Manalo posted on X.
The seafarers remain detained after their tanker containing Iraqi crude bound for Turkey was seized by Iran on Jan. 11.
According to Manalo, he had a candid talk with Makber, not only on the
welfare of Filipino seafarers, but also on geopolitical issues.
“We also noted the potential to grow PH-Iran trade relations,” he said.