Ten Iranian fishermen who had been reported missing for several weeks in Gulf waters have been located alive in the United Arab Emirates, according to Iran’s foreign ministry. Mohammad Soleimani, head of the ministry’s representative office in Hormozgan province, confirmed that 13 fishermen initially went missing in early August under circumstances that raised concerns they might have been detained after inadvertently entering the territorial waters of neighboring countries.

On Tuesday, authorities in the UAE notified the Iranian embassy in Abu Dhabi that 10 of the missing fishermen were in the country and are now preparing to return to Iran. The whereabouts of the remaining three fishermen have not been clarified.

The fishermen’s disappearance drew attention amid ongoing tensions in the Gulf region, where territorial and maritime disputes frequently lead to detentions or arrests of civilians, including fishermen. Iran and the UAE have a history of navigating such incidents through diplomatic channels, although concrete details about this particular case have not been publicly disclosed.

Iranian officials have expressed relief at the safe recovery of the majority of the missing group and indicated efforts are underway to facilitate their return. The incident underscores the continuing risks faced by fishermen operating along contested maritime boundaries in the Gulf region.