Iran Seizes Cargo Ship in Strait of Hormuz

Members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) captured a cargo ship in the Straight of Hormuz on Saturday.

According to Iran’s IRNA news agency, an IRGC helicopter landed soldiers on the ship, who directed it into Iranian waters. The ship, the MSC Aries, carries a Portuguese flag but is “linked” to Israel, Iran says.

The action by Iran comes just days after the Iranian government warned Tuesday that it could close the straight of Hormuz in response to the Israeli air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, April 1. The Israeli strike killed seven IRGC officers, including two senior commanders.

According to Reuters,

MSC, which operates the Aries, confirmed Iran had seized the ship and said it was working “with the relevant authorities” for its safe return and the wellbeing of its 25 crew.

MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac said in a statement, adding that MSC is responsible for all the vessel’s activities. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.

Regarding the seizure of the ship, Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that “Iran will bear consequences for choosing to escalate this situation any further.”

The straight of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, and serves as the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Iran has threatened to close off the straight before, and such an action would have global consequences as nearly one third of the world’s liquefied natural gas and nearly a quarter of the world’s oil passes through the body of water.