Iran seizes Israel-linked ship MCS ARIES near Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday (April 13), as reported by the Iranian state-run IRNA news agency.

IRNA reported that a Guards helicopter had boarded and taken into Iranian waters the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries.

Shipping security agencies had earlier reported a vessel being boarded and seized by "regional authorities" in the Hormuz Strait between the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) pinpointed the seizure location 50 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah, a key port city in the UAE bordering the Strait. While details remain unclear, a British maritime security firm, Ambrey, confirmed a "boarding" incident at the same location.

Marine tracking sites said the vessel was the MSC Aries of Zodiac Maritime, an international shipping company partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.

Iranian authorities did not immediately issue any public statement on the incident.

A US defence official said, "We are aware of the situation reported by UKMTO and we are monitoring it" but would not confirm or deny the name of the vessel when asked if it was the MSC Aries.

UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 063 BOARDING UPDATE
001https://t.co/6mNrG6W5iO#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/BXD73sutrP — United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) April 13, 2024

The naval head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Alireza Tangsiri said on Tuesday that it could close the Strait of Hormuz if deemed necessary.

He said Iran viewed as a threat Israel's presence in the UAE, with which Israel established diplomatic relations in 2020 as part of the 'Abraham Accords' mediated by the United States.

Tangsiri's statement cameamidst escalating tensions in the region. Since Israel-Gaza war began in October, clashes between Israel and US on one side, and Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen on the other, have become increasingly frequent.

Iran has threatened to retaliate for suspected Israeli airstrikes on its consulate in Syria's capital Damascus on April 1.

US President Joe Biden said on Friday he expected Iran to attack Israel sooner, rather than later and warned Tehran not to proceed.

For months, Yemen's Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have been disrupting global trade by attacking ships in the Red Sea.

They claim these attacks target vessels linked to Israel in retaliation for its Gaza campaign. In response to these disruptions, the United States and Britain have launched airstrikes against Houthi targets.

(With inputs from agencies)