On Saturday, state media said that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards intercepted a container ship “related to the Zionist regime (Israel) in the Gulf,” escalating tensions.
Israel’s army threatened “consequences” if tensions grew after Iran claimed the ship on Saturday.
By Daniel Hagari, “Iran will bear the consequences for choosing to escalate the situation any further.”
“Iran will pay the price if it decides to take the situation to new heights.”
Italian-Swiss ship operator MSC claims Iran controls.
The Sepah (Guards) Navy Special Forces “seized it by carrying out a heliborne operation,” according to IRNA.
America has requested that Iran release the British vessel that it captured near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said, “We demand that Iran promptly free the ship and its international crew.” “Seizing a civilian vessel without provocation is a blatant violation of international law and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.”
“This ship has now been directed towards Iran’s territorial waters,” “near the Strait of Hormuz.”.
Iranian authorities “boarded the Aries via helicopter as she passed the Strait of Hormuz,” the MSC said early on Saturday.
A team of 25 is “working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure their wellbeing and the safe return of the vessel.”
The US Energy Information Administration estimates that the Gulf-Indian Ocean Strait of Hormuz transports 5% of global oil.
In social media videos, people rope leap from a helicopter onto the Aries deck.
Marinetraffic.com and vesselfinder.com list Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries. The last sighting of it took place in the Gulf.
After a Damascus diplomatic and consular annexe attack, Iran declared war on the US two weeks ago. Friday saw a US army deployment.
Following Israel’s admission of culpability for the embassy attack, US President Joe Biden indicated Friday that Iran would respond “sooner rather than later.”.
The April 1 raid killed two generals and seven Revolutionary Guardsmen.
The seven-month Israel-Hamas Gaza conflict is growing.
Iran-supported Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen joined.
Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen are bombing Red Sea goods with rockets and drones. In November, they received the Israeli cargo ship Galaxy Leader. Workplace slavery.
Iran supports Hamas but denies the October 7 Israeli attack that launched the war.
In January, a US “theft” of oil caused a ship halt off Oman.
After taking over, the Iranian navy rescued the St. Nikolas sailors.
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