Singapore Condemns IRGC Warning Shots Fired at Its Vessel

Singapore condemned the warning shots fired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at a cargo ship flying its flag. Last week, Iran attempted to stop and seize a vessel operating under the Singaporean flag in the Persian Gulf, but the ship managed to escape to waters owned by the United Arab Emirates. Iranian officials claim that the ship collided with the South Pars Phase 13 platform on the second of Farvardin (March 22) and caused $300 million in damage to the marine structure. The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority condemned the action on Monday, May 28, describing the shooting at the vessel as a 'serious violation of international law.' The authority also called on Iran to investigate the incident in international waters. Initially, television networks reported last Thursday, citing an American official, that Iran had fired warning shots at a Singapore-flagged ship but failed to seize it. According to Reuters, the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority expressed deep concern over the incident. The authority stated that 'freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade are vital for Singapore and other countries engaged in maritime trade, and Iran's actions are a violation of international law.' The statement indicated that Iran was asked to conduct an investigation into the incident and prevent its recurrence in the future. The report stated that IRGC forces fired warning shots at the 'Alpine Eternity' vessel belonging to the Norwegian company Transpetrol, which was sailing under the Singaporean flag. In this context, the manager of the South Pars Phase 13 consortium, Habib Jadidi, called for cooperation from neighboring countries to seize and deliver the Singaporean vessel during an interview with the Shana news agency, the press organ of the Iranian Ministry of Oil, on Friday, May 25. Jadidi mentioned that the vessel intended to leave the region before paying damages. He stated that the consortium he leads has taken legal action through the courts of the Islamic Republic of Iran to claim the damages incurred. According to the report, the vessel, which was carrying fuel and had departed from the port of Bahrain, collided with the South Pars Phase 13 platform at 3 a.m. on the second of Farvardin, deviating 25 to 30 miles from its course, resulting in $300 million in damages to the platform. Jadidi noted that after follow-ups and negotiations with the Norwegian company's lawyer, the issues were reported to the ship's representatives and owner’s insurance, but no action has been taken for compensation so far. The warning shots at the 'Alpine Eternity' occurred while the cargo ship 'Maersk Tigris,' chartered by Maersk and sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was also seized by IRGC patrol vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on the eighth of Farvardin. Iranian officials cited the reason for the seizure as the owner's debt to Iranian companies. The Marshall Islands vessel was released on the seventeenth of Farvardin after what Iran described as 'obtaining a commitment from Maersk to comply with definitive court rulings.'