Iran’s Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian Announces Release of Crew on Portuguese Ship Seized in Strait of Hormuz; Meanwhile, Attack on British Ship Damages Yemeni Port

Amirabdollahian, Iran’s Foreign Minister, has announced that the crew of a ship flying the Portuguese flag will be released. The MSC Aries container ship with a crew of 25 was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz on April 13. Tehran had vowed to retaliate after a suspected Israeli attack on its consulate in Damascus, and the ship was linked to Israel.

In a phone call to his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel, Amirabdollahian expressed his concerns about the humanitarian issue of releasing the ship’s crew. He promised that they would be handed over to their respective diplomatic representatives in Tehran, although no specific timing was given. The Aries was seized for violating maritime laws.

Meanwhile, another incident occurred off the coast of Yemen when a ship was damaged by multiple missiles. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Security Agency reported that this attack took place southwest of the Yemeni port of Mokha and claimed it was carried out by Houthi rebels who are supported by Iran. The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacking two ships: Andromeda Star and MV Maisha. While the Andromeda Star sustained minor damage, it continued its journey uninterrupted.

These recent incidents follow a lull in attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis against international shipping in the Red Sea. Despite this, efforts continue to ensure safety and security in maritime activities in the region amid ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza Strip.[