Tehran, Iran – Iranian armed forces have seized a container ship near the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions across the region following a deadly Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria.
Iranian state media reported Saturday that the ship was commanded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the elite force that lost seven members, including two generals, in the Syria attack.
“The ship is now directed towards our country’s territorial waters,” state-run IRNA reported.
The ship was identified as the Portugal-flagged MSC Aries, which reportedly departed from a port in the UAE en route to India. It is linked to London-based Zodiac Maritime, part of the Zodiac Group run by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer and his family.
Footage obtained from the ship’s deck on Saturday by the Associated Press news agency shows soldiers disembarking from a helicopter.
The helicopter appears to be a Soviet-designed Mil Mi-17, operated by IRGC naval forces.
Zodiac Maritime said in a statement that MSC, an Italian-Swiss shipping group, was responsible for all ship activities.
MSC confirmed that there were 25 crew members on board, saying in a statement that it was “working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure their well-being and the safe return of the ship”.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a vessel had been seized by “regional authorities” 50 nautical miles (92 km) northeast of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, in a waterway vital to world trade.
Another container ship belonging to Israel was attacked and damaged by a drone in the Indian Ocean in late November, for which the United States blamed Iran.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a post on Twitter that Iran’s move was “a pirate operation in violation of international law.”
He called on the European Union and the “free world” to immediately declare the IRGC a “terrorist organization” and to impose sanctions on Iran now.
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said the ship’s crew included Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian and Estonian nationals and took action against seizing the ship.
“We call on Iran to immediately release the ship and its international crew,” he said. “Seizing a civilian ship without provocation is a gross violation of international law, and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.”
increasing regional tensions
The US military is moving more military assets to the Middle East as it fears an Iranian response to the Israeli attack on the Syrian Consulate.
A US defense official told Al Jazeera that the move is primarily aimed at better protecting US troops in the region, but also to enhance regional deterrence.
US media have confirmed the move but the Pentagon has not officially said what assets it is moving to the region.
The Wall Street Journal quoted unnamed US officials on Friday as saying it would involve redeploying two destroyers, with one warship already in the area and the other redirected there.
On Saturday, US President Joe Biden said he was cutting short his weekend stay in Delaware to meet his national security team and return to the White House early to meet with his national security team and monitor the security situation ahead of an anticipated Iranian attack on Israel.
On Friday, Biden said he expected Iranian retaliation to occur “as soon as possible” and that Washington would continue to defend Israel.
Asked by reporters if he had a message for Iran, he said, “Don’t.”
Since the start of the war on Gaza following the October 7 attacks by Hamas-led Israel, the US has sent warships and troops to the area as well as thousands of bombs and ammunition to its ally Israel despite growing international criticism. Is.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Friday that Iran’s threats to retaliate against Israel remain “real” and viable.
Gen. Eric Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command in the region, arrived in Israel on Friday to discuss a possible Iranian attack and met with top officials, including Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi.
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said that “Iran funds, trains and arms terrorism throughout the Middle East and beyond”, adding that the Islamic Republic not only threatens the people of Israel, Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, but “Promotes war in Ukraine and beyond”.
He said Israel is on “high alert” and “ready to respond” to “any Iranian aggression.”
