Iranian regime releases new claims on stolen 'Israel-linked' transit cargo

• Published date: 24 April 2024
• Author: JERUSALEM POST STAFF
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Iranian police alleged that the ship was carrying more than 22 metric tons of potassium nitrate, a chemical product used as fertilizer in agricultural projects, to customers in Uzbekistan

Iranian General Reza Baniasadifar reportedly stated the fertilizer had been manufactured by the "fake Zionist regime" and was confiscated under Article 9 of Iran's Export-Import Regulations – a regulation which prohibits any commercial dealings with Israel.

The report claimed that the ship was seized on Iranian territory in Bazargan. Bazargan is located in the West Azerbaijan province.

Shipping industry urges UN to protect vessels after Iran seizure

Merchant ships and seafarers are increasingly in peril at sea as attacks escalate in the Middle East and the United Nations must do more to protect supply chains, the industry said in a letter released last Friday.

Tensions have soared across the Middle East since the start of Israel's campaign in Gaza in October, with Israel or its ally the United States clashing repeatedly with Iranian-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

In a letter sent on Thursday to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the world's leading shipping industry associations said Iran's seizure on April 13 of the MSC Aries container ship 50 nautical miles off the United Arab Emirates coast "once again highlighted the intolerable situation where shipping has become a target."

"Innocent seafarers have been killed, seafarers are being held hostage," the letter...