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Indian officials said they were in touch with Iranian authorities after an Israel-affiliated container vessel MSC Aries was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in the Gulf of Hormuz on Saturday.
There were 17 Indians among the 25 crew members on board the Portuguese-flagged vessel, including the Master of the ship, as well as four Filipinos, two Pakistanis, one Russian, and one Estonian, official sources said.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow body of water that separates Iran on the north from Oman and the United Arab Emirates on the south.
It's a crucial waterway as it provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.
Around one-third of the world's oil transported by sea travels through the Strait of Hormuz, making it a strategically important chokepoint.
The strait is roughly 90 miles long and varies in width from 21 to 52 nautical miles.
Despite its narrowness, the Strait of Hormuz is deep enough to accommodate large oil tankers.
The Strait of Hormuz has been a significant shipping lane for centuries.
In the past, it was a key point for trade in luxury goods from the vast hinterlands that bordered the Persian Gulf.
Today, it remains an essential route for global trade, and any disruption to shipping through the strait can have a significant impact on the world economy.
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