Tehran hails Yemen’s freeing Israeli-linked ship’s crew; Mexico thanks Iran’s mediation

Iran welcomed Yemen's recent release of the crew of an Israeli-linked cargo vessel confiscated shortly after the Tel Aviv regime waged its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

News ID: 5845

Date: 23 January 2025 - 15:02

TABNAK, Jan 23: An assistant to Iran's foreign minister and the director general for the Persian Gulf Affairs in the Iranian Foreign Ministry said his office had been following up on the matter through communication with relevant parties in Yemen as well as the Palestinian Hamas resistance group over the past months.

“We are now pleased that, with the sincere cooperation of [Yemen's] Ansarullah [resistance movement], the crew of the ship will return to their respective countries,” Mohammad Alibek added.

As part of its campaign in support of Palestinians in Gaza, Yemen seized the Bahamas-flagged, Japanese-operated Galaxy Leader owned by a British company, which in turn is partially owned by Israeli tycoon Abraham (Rami) Ungar.

The seizure took place in the Red Sea through a helicopter-borne Yemeni operation in November 2023.

Since then, the vessel’s 25-strong crew – 17 Filipinos, three Ukrainians, two Bulgarians, two Mexicans and a Romanian – had been held in Yemen.

On Wednesday, Yemen's Supreme Political Council “announced the freeing of the crew of the Galaxy Leader," saying the move came “in support of the ceasefire" in Gaza.

The ship’s crew had been handed to mediators from Oman, Yemen’s al-Masirah television channel reported.

The move is part of Yemen’s broader efforts to support the Palestinian people and strengthen regional solidarity against Israel's bloody onslaught on Gaza.

Mexico thanks mediators, including Iran

Mexico’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Anibal Gomez-Toledo posted  on X a picture of himself with the Galaxy Leader's two freed Mexican crew.

Mexico's Foreign Ministry extended its gratitude to Oman for its mediation, and to Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, and Mexico's honorary consuls in Yemen and Oman for their assistance.