Exclusive: The U.S. Strongly Condemns the IRGC's 'Piracy'

On Saturday, April 14, the U.S. Department of State strongly condemned the seizure of the 'MSC Aris' ship by the Islamic Republic of Iran in a correspondence with the Persian section of Voice of America. According to a State Department spokesperson, this ship, flying the Portuguese flag and owned by a British company, was seized in 'international waters,' and its crew hails from India, the Philippines, Pakistan, Russia, and Estonia. The department called on the Islamic Republic to immediately release the ship and its international crew. The spokesperson stated that the seizure of a civilian vessel, despite no provocative actions from it, constitutes a 'gross violation of international law' and 'piracy' by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is designated as a 'foreign terrorist organization.' He concluded by stating that this action 'must be unequivocally condemned, and we will work with our partners to hold Iran accountable for its actions.' Earlier, Grant Shapps, the British Defense Secretary, described the seizure of the 'MSC Aris' by Iran as 'unacceptable and a clear violation of international law' on social media platform 'X.' He called for the unconditional and immediate release of the crew of this commercial ship. The British Defense Secretary also emphasized London's and its partners' efforts to prevent escalation in the Middle East, stating, 'Iran must immediately cease its destabilizing behavior.' Following the news of the seizure of the Portuguese-flagged ship, Israel Katz, the Israeli Foreign Minister, urged the 'European Union and the free world' to 'immediately designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization and sanction Iran now.' He wrote on media platform 'X': 'The IRGC of Iran seized a civilian Portuguese cargo ship belonging to a member of the European Union, claiming ownership by Israel. The regime of Ayatollah Khamenei is a criminal regime that supports the crimes of Hamas and is now engaging in piracy by violating international law.' Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israeli Army, also responded to reports regarding the seizure of the 'Aris' ship, stating, 'Iran will face consequences if it chooses to escalate tensions further.' He noted that the Islamic Republic considers Israel's presence in the United Arab Emirates a threat, with which Israel established diplomatic relations in 2020 through the 'Abraham Accords' mediated by the United States. The state news agency 'IRNA' reported on Saturday that the IRGC seized a 'Israel-related' cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The seizure of the 'MSC Aris' cargo ship occurred shortly after a threat from the commander of the IRGC Navy, who stated that they could close the Strait of Hormuz if necessary. The 'MSC Aris,' flying the Portuguese flag and chartered by the international shipping services company 'Zodiac,' stated that it manages the ship. According to Reuters, 'Zodiac' is part of the 'Ofer Global' company, managed by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. The seizure of a commercial ship by the IRGC comes at a time when the Islamic Republic has threatened to retaliate for an airstrike attributed to Israel on April 2, which resulted in the deaths of several senior IRGC members at its consulate in Damascus, Syria. President Joe Biden has warned Tehran not to do this. The Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, is the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which one-fifth of the world's oil trade passes. Fujairah, on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, is the main port in the region where ships can carry new oil cargoes, pick up supplies, or transfer crews. Since 2019, the waters off Fujairah have witnessed a series of explosions and hijackings. The U.S. Navy has held the Iranian government responsible for mine-laying operations that have damaged oil tankers.