Islamic Republic Claims Crew of 'MSC Aris' Ship Released

The Islamic Republic claims that the crew of a seized ship operating under the Portuguese flag has been released, but the ship itself remains in the possession of the Islamic Republic. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic, announced this on Friday, May 14, asserting that the seized ship had turned off its radar in Iranian waters and 'threatened maritime security,' stating that the vessel is under 'judicial detention.' He also claimed that the release of the crew was 'humanitarian' and that they could return to their countries along with the ship's captain. A few days after the Islamic Republic officials promised retaliation for the airstrike on April 2 attributed to Israel against the Islamic Republic's consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of several senior members of the Revolutionary Guard, the Revolutionary Guard seized the cargo ship 'MSC Aris' with 25 crew members, claiming it had connections to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Republic of Iran had previously threatened that it could close this vital shipping route. The Iranian Foreign Ministry had earlier stated that the ship was seized for 'violating maritime laws' and that 'there is no doubt' it is linked to Israel. The Portuguese Foreign Ministry had requested that the crew receive adequate medical services until their release and noted that the Islamic Republic's explanations regarding the seizure of the ship were contradictory. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department had previously referred to the Revolutionary Guard's action as 'piracy.' Additionally, the MSC company leases the Aris ship from 'Gortal Shipping,' a company affiliated with 'Zodiac Maritime,' part of which is owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. A few weeks after the outbreak of war between Israel and the Hamas group, Houthi militants, supported by the Iranian government and controlling parts of Yemen, began attacking cargo ships and warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden under the pretext of supporting the people of Gaza. A container ship was targeted by a missile attack in the Red Sea. The seizure of a commercial ship by the Iranian government has been deemed 'intolerable' by the global shipping industry. The U.S. has strongly condemned the Revolutionary Guard's actions as 'piracy.' The British Defense Minister stated that Iran must immediately cease its destabilizing behavior. Following the seizure of a commercial ship by the Revolutionary Guard, Israel has called for sanctions against Iran from the European Union and the free world. The Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian chargé d'affaires, demanding the release of its citizen. Portugal protested against the attack on Israel and the seizure of the commercial ship; the Iranian ambassador in Lisbon was summoned.