Guterres calls for a stop to attacks on blue helmets
After the death of a French soldier from the UN mission Unifil in Lebanon, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a stop to attacks on blue helmet soldiers. “All actors are urged to respect the cessation of hostilities and to cease fire,” Guterres said in a statement from his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric in New York. Such attacks constituted serious violations of international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes.
Connections to Iran? The US military probably wants to board ships around the world
The US military is expected to board ships that have connections to Iran in the coming days. This is reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing sources in the Defense Ministry. US General Dan Caine had already announced during the week: “The US will actively pursue any ship flying the Iranian flag or any ship that attempts to support Iran.” This also applies to “shadow fleet” ships that officially fly under the flag of other countries.
Revolutionary Guards declare Strait of Hormuz closed
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy declares the Strait of Hormuz closed. This will apply from Saturday afternoon until the US blockade on Iranian ships is lifted, according to a statement distributed by Iranian media. There is currently no statement from the US government.
After shots at ships: India summons Iranian ambassador
After the alleged shelling of two Indian-flagged merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the Foreign Ministry in New Delhi summoned the Iranian ambassador. At the meeting in the evening (local time), India’s “deep concerns about the shooting incident” were conveyed to the diplomat, the ministry said in a statement. The authorities specifically spoke of shots fired at merchant ships. No further details were given.
India has emphasized how important the safety of merchant shipping and seafarers is to it, it said. Iran had previously granted safe passage to several ships bound for India. New Delhi calls on the Iranian ambassador to convey India’s position to Tehran and to make it easier for ships to travel to India through the Strait of Hormuz.
The tracking service TankerTrackers.com had previously reported, citing the maritime emergency channel, that Iranian Revolutionary Guards had violently pushed back two ships in the strait. Among other things, a VLCC supertanker that transported two million barrels (around 272,000 tons) of Iraqi crude oil was affected. As the Indian broadcaster NDTV reported, citing information sources, the ships “Jag Arnav” and “Sanmar Herald” were attacked by gunboats. No one was injured and no property damage was caused. However, the ships would have had to turn back.
Iran threatened Tui cruise ship: “We will destroy you”
After the Strait of Hormuz was closed again, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards fired on at least one ship and also threatened the Tui cruise ship “Mein Schiff 4”. As the British Maritime Security Agency (UKMTO) announced on Saturday, the captain of a tanker reported an attack by two Revolutionary Guard patrol boats around 37 kilometers northeast of Oman. Without warning, the boats “shot at the tanker,” the authority said. The tanker and the crew were therefore safe.
