15 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were arrested in October last year for entering Iranian waters without permission have been released, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted on Monday.

“I am happy to inform that Iran has released our fifteen fishermen from Tamil Nadu. They were detained with their three Bahrani boats who were arrested with their three Bahraini boats,” Ms Swaraj tweeted.

The 15 fishermen released during the weekend were among 37 other Indian fishermen, who were arrested in the waters near Iran last year.

Iranian coast guards arrested Indian fishermen on October 22nd, when they were on their way from Bahrain to Sharjah.

The court order came within a week after India released a British citizen of Iranian-origin, who was facing charges in India. With the release of these 15 fishermen, Iran now has 22 other Indian fishermen in its custody, who were detained between August 2016 and January 2017.

The release of fishermen is a positive sign for India-Iran ties following Iran’s objection to former Pakistani Army Chief General Raheel Sharif for joining the Saudi-led coalition of Islamic forces.

AMandeep