Iran follows up on Aussie boat disaster

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says the country is following up on the news of its nationals being killed and lost near the Australian coastline.

“In line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963, the Foreign Ministry is following up on the issue,” Mehmanparast said on Sunday.

He added that Iran’s Embassy in Australia is currently in contact with the Australian foreign ministry on the issue.

Australian media on Sunday reported that 97 people from Iraq and Iran had gone missing at sea en route to Australia from Indonesia.

This is while one day earlier another boat carrying 57 people was intercepted northeast of Ashmore Island, north-west of Australia and south of the Indonesian island of Rote.

Earlier this month, dozens of people were killed after their boat hit rocky cliffs on Australia’s Christmas Island, just 355 km from Indonesia’s island of Java. About 70 people were onboard.

Forty-two people were rescued, but officials believe many more were swept away in the strong currents.