Iranian police allege 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, which is located in the West Azerbaijan province.
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 said. “The world would be outraged if four airliners were seized and held hostage with innocent souls onboard. Regrettably, there does not seem to be the same response or concern for ships and their crew members).” An Indian woman who was a mariner on the MSC Aries returned to the country, India’s foreign ministry said last week, adding it was in touch with the other 16 Indian crew members still being held aboard the vessel.
Recent attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have also affected the global maritime transport chain. Iran has also seized other vessels in international waters in recent years, heightening risks for merchant shipping in the area.
