Iranian special forces from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship, the MSC Aries, near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, escalating tensions in a region already reeling from the war in Gaza and a recent suspected Israeli strike that killed senior Iranian military officers in Syria. The incident, reported by Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, has raised fears of potential disruptions to global trade in the crucial shipping lane.
According to IRNA, IRGC navy special forces used a helicopter to board and seize the Portuguese-flagged container ship, which is operated by the U.K.-based shipping company MSC and leased from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime. Zodiac Maritime is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. Video footage released by Iranian news channels purportedly shows the seizure, with a figure abseiling from a helicopter onto the ship.
MSC confirmed the seizure of the Aries and stated that it is working "with the relevant authorities" to ensure the safe return of the vessel and the well-being of its 25 crew members. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that the ship was seized 50 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah, an area close to the entrance of the Persian Gulf.
The seizure of the MSC Aries comes amid heightened regional tensions following Israel's campaign in Gaza in October and repeated clashes between Israel or its ally, the United States, with Iranian-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Iran has threatened to retaliate for suspected Israeli airstrikes on its consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed seven IRGC officers, including two senior commanders.
In response to the seizure, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Tehran of piracy, while Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari warned that "Iran will bear consequences for choosing to escalate this situation any further." U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his expectation that Iran would attack Israel "sooner, rather than later" and cautioned Tehran against doing so.
The incident has raised concerns about potential disruptions to global trade, as the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy routes. Earlier this week, IRGC naval head Alireza Tangsiri threatened to close the strait if deemed necessary, citing Israel's presence in the United Arab Emirates as a threat. Analyst Hasan Alhasan of the International Institute for Strategic Studies suggested that the seizure of the MSC Aries may be an attempt by Iran to save face without risking a wider escalation while playing on fears of potential obstruction to shipping through the strait.
The seizure of the container ship follows months of disruption to global trade caused by attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group, which claims to be targeting vessels linked to Israel in retaliation for Israel's campaign in Gaza. The United States and Britain have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response to these attacks.
As companies avoid the Suez Canal and opt for longer routes around Africa to reach the Indian Ocean, the resulting delays and increased fuel costs are expected to impact container and commodity deliveries. The Joint Maritime Information Center, run by a Western-led naval coalition, has advised vessels intending to navigate the Strait of Hormuz to exercise caution and not loiter in the area.
The escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, often referred to as a "shadow war," have drawn the attention of the international community. The United States has signaled its support for Israel while working to persuade Iran to avoid significant escalation. President Biden has pledged that America's "commitment to Israel's security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is iron-clad," even as his administration grows increasingly critical of Israel's pursuit of the war in Gaza.
