Iranian Foreign Minister Hossei Amirabdollahian has announced that the crew of the ship flying the Portuguese flag, connected to Israel, and seized by the Islamic Republic should be released. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized the MSC Aries container ship with a crew of 25 in the Strait of Hormuz on April 13, days after Tehran vowed to retaliate over a suspected Israeli attack on its consulate in Damascus. Amirabdollahian said in a phone call to his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel that “the humanitarian issue of the release of the ship’s crew seriously concerns us”, Iranian media reported, relaunched by the Reuters agency.
According to reports, the minister promised that the crew will be handed over to their respective diplomatic representatives in Tehran, but the timing was not specified. Amirabodllahian said the Aries was seized for “violation of maritime laws” and that there was no doubt she was linked to Israel. MSC charters the Aries from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, partially owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
Red Sea: Houthis strike oil tanker off Yemen
A ship was damaged when it was targeted twice with multiple missiles yesterday off the coast of Yemen, in the latest attack on international shipping in the Red Sea claimed by Houthi rebels.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Security Agency (UKMTO) said the attack took place south-west of the Yemeni port of Mokha. In the first attack, “an explosion occurred near the ship which was felt by the crew on board”, Ukmto said. “The second attack on the vessel consisted of what is believed to be two missiles, which caused damage,” she added.
Hours earlier, British maritime security company Ambrey had also reported an attack off the port of Mokha. “Three missiles were spotted” in that incident, Ambrey said. “A Panama-flagged oil tanker was the closest vessel to these. The tanker was previously owned by the United Kingdom, but ownership changed in November 2023,” according to Ambrey. Currently, it says, the vessel is registered in the Seychelles and “was en route from Primorsk, Russia, to Vadinar, India”.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree later claimed responsibility for the attack in a post on appropriate naval forces, and the ship took a direct hit.”
US Central Command (Centcom) also confirmed the attack on the Andromeda Star, as well as another ship, the MV Maisha. The Houthis, Centcom wrote on “The MV Andromeda Star reports minor damage, but she is continuing her journey,” she added, specifying that no injuries were reported.
The latest incidents follow a lull in attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, who have launched dozens of missile and drone strikes against shipping since November. The Houthis have claimed to be acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in the context of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.