Supply chain and logistics in the Middle East region and further south towards the Horn of Africa are on a knife edge after Iran unleashed a barrage of missile and drone attacks against Israel after also seizing a container vessel, claiming it’s Israeli-operated.
The Portugal-flagged Aries, owned by Zodiac Maritime and chartered by MSC, was intercepted by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to vessel tracking platforms, the ship, with 25 crew on board, was on its way to India when it was forcibly diverted to the Iranian coast while it was northwest of the Port of Fujairah.
Soon after the IRGC seized the Aries, Iran said it had done so because of Zodiac Maritime’s links with Israel.
The Monaco-based vessel operator is run by Eyal Ofer, son of Israeli shipping magnate Sammy Ofer. Various sources, including The Washington Post, have reported that the group has a long history of working closely with both the Israeli Defence Force and Mossad, although this could not be confirmed.
Voice of America reported that the US State Department had called Iran’s actions a "blatant violation of international laws" and "piracy".
Iran’s perceived provocation of Western trade interests took on an entirely different and much more elevated aspect than its seizure of the Aries when it unleashed a direct attack against Israel on Sunday.
However, the unprecedented assault, involving over 300 drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles, was wholly thwarted by Israel’s defensive capability, resulting in only one reported case of non-fatal hospitalisation.
In another incident over the weekend, Somali pirates released the Abdullah and its crew of 23, hijacked in March as it was sailing with a load of coal from Mozambique to the UAE, but only after a ransom of $5 million had been paid.
It’s not the first time that seaborne pirates based in Somalia have successfully solicited a $5m ransom after hijacking a commercial vessel.
John Denton, secretary-general of the International Chamber of Commerce, last week warned that pirates operating around the Horn of Africa had taken their cue from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, ending a six-year lull in pirate attacks on Africa’s north-east coast.
He said now, more than ever, it was important to ensure the uninterrupted free flow of goods throughout international supply chains.
