Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) troops seized a Portuguese-flagged ship owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group in the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel. Video footage showed IRGC troops rappelling down onto the ship’s deck from a helicopter, with one trooper providing potential cover fire while more troops descended. The ship, MSC Aries, had 25 crew members on board and was taken into Iranian territorial waters, according to Iranian state-run IRNA.
The seizure of the MSC Aries followed a week of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with Tehran vowing revenge for an attack on an Iranian consulate in Damascus attributed to Israel by many, including the United States. President Biden warned of a potential Iranian response “sooner than later,” prompting the U.S. to move assets closer to Israel in preparation for a possible attack. U.S. CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Kurilla also hastened his trip to Israel in response to the increased Iranian threats.
The IRGC has a history of attempting to control the Persian Gulf, including harassing American naval ships in 2020 and seizing ships near the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have cited the MSC Aries’ ties to Israel as the reason for its seizure, with the IRGC moving the vessel into Iranian territorial waters. This incident comes as tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate, raising concerns about the potential for further conflict between the two nations.
Geneva-based MSC reported that the ship had 25 crew members aboard. The Iranian state-run IRNA said the IRGC was taking the vessel into Iranian territorial waters. Analysts believe the recent seizure of the MSC Aries is part of Iran’s efforts to exert control over the Persian Gulf and assert its influence in the region. The IRGC has previously seized ships in the Gulf, including a Hong Kong-flagged oil tanker in 2020 near the Strait of Hormuz.
As tensions between Iran and Israel remain high, President Biden warned that Iran’s response could come “sooner than later,” prompting the U.S. to move assets closer to Israel to prepare for a potential attack. U.S. CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Kurilla also expedited his trip to Israel in response to increased threats from Iran. The seizure of the MSC Aries by IRGC troops marks the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, raising concerns about the potential for further military confrontation in the region.
