Amid tensions with the West, Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized a container ship near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. The ship belonged to Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. Reportedly, 17 Indian nationals are onboard the cargo ship.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations received reports earlier that a vessel had been seized by "regional authorities" close to the Emirati port city of Fujairah.
Iranian state media had said that the ship identified as the Portugese-flagged 'MSC Aries' had now been "directed towards the territorial waters" of Tehran. “A container ship named 'MCS Aries' was seized by the Sepah Navy Special Forces by carrying out a heliborne operation," the IRNA news agency reported.
The video reportedly showed the boarding of MSC Aries via helicopter by Iranian forces off the Straits of Hormuz and the seizure of the ship.
— Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️ (@mercoglianos) April 13, 2024
Mediterranean Shipping has been a repeated target for the #Houthi, and now it appears #Iran. pic.twitter.com/NnRsdvfuGV
Videos that circulated in social media showed commandos rappelling down onto a stack of containers stacked on the deck of the vessel.
MSC Aries is a container ship associated with London-based Zodiac Maritime — a company that is part of the Zodiac Group led by Ofer. "We regret to confirm that MSC Aries owned by Gortal Shipping Inc which is affiliated to Zodiac Maritime, and chartered to MSC, has been boarded by Iranian authorities via helicopter. She has 25 crew onboard, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure their wellbeing, and the safe return of the vessel," the company said in a statement.
The vessel was headed towards the Strait of Hormuz from Dubai.
According to sources, India is in touch with Iranian authorities to ensure security, welfare and early release of Indian nationals onboard.
While the Israeli army warned Iran that it would suffer the "consequences" of further escalating the conflict in the region. "Iran will bear the consequences for choosing to escalate the situation any further," military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a statement.
The seizing of the ship comes amid Iran's retaliation attack threat against Israel. Iran has vowed to avenge an alleged Israeli attack on its consulate in Syria that killed around 13 people, including its two generals. The possibility of an Iranian attack has pushed Israel to an edge. Countries including India, the US, Russia and France have issued travel advisories in the wake of the imminent attack.
Amid retaliation threat, President Joe Biden has promised Israel "ironclad" US support. "As I told Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel's security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad - let me say it again, ironclad," said Biden.
"We are going to do all we can to protect Israel's security," he added.
