While the international scene is concerned about threats of retaliation in the Middle East after Saturday's Iranian attack on Israeli territory, the Iranian ambassador in Lisbon was summoned on Tuesday by the Portuguese Foreign Ministry.
” The Portuguese government expressed its deep concern about the escalation of the conflict in the region, calling for the utmost levels of restraint “, he announced.
But in addition to the minister's condemnation of recent events, Portugal also demanded the release of a Portuguese-flagged container ship and its crew. The latter was remarkably captured this weekend in the Gulf by Tehran forces, prior to the attack.
” The meeting once again renewed the demand for the immediate release of the MSC Aries ship detained in the Strait of Hormuz. », specified by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A ship accused of being ” Linked to Israel »
Indeed, the Special Naval Forces of the Revolutionary Guard, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, seized, in the Strait of Hormuz, a container ship that Tehran accuses of being “ Linked to Israel ». ” The ship was directed towards Iranian territorial waters “So that they are” The necessary investigations were conducted », Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser al-Kanani said on Monday. But no information was provided about the 25 crew members, including Indians and a Russian.
The spokesman explained that Iran seized the ship because “ It violated international maritime regulations ” And “He failed to respond appropriately to questions from the Iranian authorities “.” It is certain that this ship belongs to the Zionist entity », Nasser al-Kanani said, referring to Israel, the arch enemy of the Islamic Republic. According to the official IRNA news agency, the MSC Aries ship is “ It is managed by the Zodiac Company, owned by the Zionist capitalist Eyal Ofer “.
“hacking operation”
This ascension was denounced as “ An act of piracy » by the United States, which is called “ Iran must immediately release this British-owned, Portuguese-flagged ship and its crew of Indians, Filipinos, Pakistanis, Russians and Estonians. “.
For her part, Japanese Diplomacy Chief Yoko Kamikawa also called on Iran, on Tuesday, to ensure safe navigation in the region's waters, after the container ship was seized.
Especially since November, Yemeni Houthi rebels have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea. The attacks had serious consequences for global maritime trade, especially disrupting the passage of boats through the Suez Canal. Many countries, in particular the United States, accuse Iran of supporting these rebels.
(With AFP)
