Iran: Container Shop Damaged In 'Terrorist' Attack, U.S. Officials: Israel Has Hit Many Ships Taking Oil To Iran

Iran says container ship damaged in ‘terrorist’ attack in Mediterranean

TOI STAFF

Accusations come a day after US officials tell Wall Street Journal that Israel has hit many ships taking Iran oil, arms to Syria

An Iranian container ship traveling in the Mediterranean was damaged in an attack this week, an official said Friday, calling the incident a “terrorist act.”

The ship was slightly damaged by an explosive object but no one on board was hurt, Ali Ghiasi, a spokesman for state-run shipping company IRISL told semi-official Nournews, according to Reuters.

The accusation comes a day after the Wall Street Journal reported that Israel has targeted at least 12 ships bound for Syria, most of them transporting Iranian oil, with mines and other weapons.

The alleged attack occurred on Wednesday. “Such terrorist acts amount to naval piracy,” he added, identifying the ship as the Shahr E Kord, and said it was traveling from Iran to Europe.

“Legal proceedings will be taken to identify the perpetrators through related international bodies,” Ghiasi added.

The company official did not disclose the ship’s current location and cargo, but said “it will continue its route after assessing and repairing the damage”.

The attacks started in late 2019 and targeted both Iranian vessels, and other ships with Iranian cargo, the report said, citing “US and regional officials.”

Some of the Israeli strikes, which took place in the Red Sea and other areas, targeted Iran-linked weapons shipments, the report said.

The attacks did not sink the tankers, but forced at least two of the vessels to return to port in Iran.

US officials say Israel has hit many ships taking Iran oil, arms to Syria: WSJ

TOI STAFF

Israel has targeted at least 12 ships bound for Syria, most of them transporting Iranian oil, with mines and other weapons, according to a Thursday report.

The attacks started in late 2019 and targeted both Iranian vessels, and other ships with Iranian cargo, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing “US and regional officials.”

Some of the Israeli strikes, which took place in the Red Sea and other areas, targeted Iran-linked weapons shipments, the report said.

The attacks did not sink the tankers, but forced at least two of the vessels to return to port in Iran.

Israel sought to halt the trade in oil because it believed the profits were financing regional extremists, the report said.

Iran has carried on with its oil trade to Syria in recent years, in violation of both US sanctions on Tehran and international sanctions on Damascus.

Israel declined to comment to The Wall Street Journal on the report.

The attacks mark a new front in the shadow war between Israel and Iran.

Israel said Iran was behind a blast on an Israeli-owned ship in the Persian Gulf last month; Iran denies the charge.

Some sources said the explosion on the MV Helios Ray, a tanker carrying cars, was caused by limpet mines. The damage forced the ship to port for repairs but did not disable it or injure any crew.

In the tense summer of 2019, the US military blamed Iran for explosions on two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic shipping lanes.