Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have seized a cargo ship they say is linked to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz, just days after Tehran announced it may close shipping through the key sea route and warned it would retaliate and punish Israel for attacking its consulate in Syria. Israel has said it is ready to attack, as well as defend itself, if Iran follows through on its threats, while US President Joe Biden has warned Tehran not to attack Israel.
In a lightning strike, Iranian commandos landed on a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz from a helicopter and seized it, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard confirmed. The ship with 25 crew members sailing under the Portuguese flag belongs to a company owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. Tehran announced that it will move the ship into Iranian territorial waters. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Iran of conducting piracy operations and that it should be sanctioned for that, while a warning, or rather a threat, was sent from the military.
“Iran will bear the consequences for further escalation of the situation. Israel is on high alert. We have increased our readiness to protect Israel from further Iranian aggression. And we are ready to respond,” said Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israeli army.
The incident in the waters between the United Arab Emirates and Iran comes at a time of heightened tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv. The world is anxiously awaiting if and when Iran or its partners will attack Israel in retaliation for an airstrike on the Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus that killed the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in Syria and Lebanon and six other officers. Israel has neither officially confirmed nor denied its responsibility for the attack.
In anticipation of the announced Iranian revenge against Israel, the US president sent a short, clear and sharp message to Tehran: “Don’t!”
Biden would not disclose security information, but said an attack could happen sooner rather than later.
“We are committed to the defense of Israel, we will support Israel, we will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” Biden said.
The Axios portal reported, citing US officials, that Tehran has informed the governments of Arab countries that it will target US bases in the region if Washington intervenes after any Iranian attack on Israel. The United States, reports the Wall Street Journal, has moved warships to protect not only Israel but also its forces in the Middle East. The UN calls to avoid any escalation and to work on de-escalating tensions.
“This is something that Secretary General Antonio Guterres is following very closely. We are very concerned about the potential escalation of a situation that seems to be escalating on a daily basis,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General.
Several countries, including India, France, Poland and Russia, have warned their citizens against traveling to the region, which is already on the brink of conflict due to the seven-month war in Gaza. Yesterday, Germany called on its citizens to leave Iran. The Netherlands will close its embassy in Tehran tomorrow as a precaution, citing the growing tensions between Iran and Israel as the reason, Federalna writes.
