UK Defense Minister: Iran Must Immediately End Its Destabilizing Behavior

Grant Shapps, the UK Defense Minister, on Saturday, April 13, described Iran's seizure of the cargo ship 'MSC Aries' as 'unacceptable and a blatant violation of international law.' He called for the unconditional and immediate release of the crew of this commercial vessel. The UK Defense Minister also emphasized London and its partners' efforts to prevent escalation in the Middle East, stating, 'Iran must immediately end its destabilizing behavior.' Following the news of the seizure of the Portuguese-flagged ship, Israel Katz, Israel's Foreign Minister, also called on the 'European Union and the free world' to 'immediately designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization and sanction Iran now.' He wrote on the platform 'X': 'The IRGC seized a civilian Portuguese cargo ship belonging to an EU member state, claiming Israeli ownership. The regime of Ayatollah Khamenei is a criminal regime that supports Hamas's crimes and is now engaging in piracy operations in violation of international law.' Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israeli army, also responded to reports regarding the seizure of the 'Aries,' stating: 'Iran will face consequences if it chooses to escalate tensions further.' He mentioned that the Islamic Republic sees Israel's presence in the United Arab Emirates as 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 cargo ship 'linked to Israel' in the Strait of Hormuz. The seizure of the 'MSC Aries' occurred shortly after the commander of the IRGC Navy threatened that it could close the Strait of Hormuz if necessary. The 'MSC Aries,' flagged in Portugal 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, which is headed by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. The seizure of a commercial ship by the IRGC comes as the Islamic Republic has threatened to retaliate for an airstrike attributed to Israel on April 2 against its consulate in Damascus, Syria, which resulted in the deaths of several senior IRGC members. U.S. President Joe Biden has warned Tehran not to do so. 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 shores of the United Arab Emirates, is the main port in the region where ships can carry new oil shipments, 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 incidents that have damaged oil tankers.