Guterres’ spokesperson believes that “there are currently enough challenges” that point to an “escalation” in the region
The US condemns the “apparent seizure” and calls for an end to “these provocative and unacceptable actions”
MADRID, 12 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The spokesman for the UN General Secretariat, Stéphane Dujarric, has indicated that he hopes that the seizure by Iran of a ship that was sailing in the Gulf of Oman “will be resolved as quickly as possible”, since he considers that “there are currently sufficient challenges for maritime traffic in the region” that point to an “escalation of the situation.
For his part, White House Security Spokesperson John Kirby condemned in a press conference “this apparent seizure” of a merchant ship, the Greek-owned oil tanker Saint Nikolas, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands while it was sailing. legally” through these waters that are transited by ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf of Oman with the Persian Gulf and through which nearly a fifth of all oil trade in the world passes.
“The Iranian Government must immediately release the ship and its crew. These provocative and unacceptable actions must end. We will continue to work with our allies and partners to deter and confront the full range of Iran’s troubling and destabilizing behavior in close coordination with the international community,” he declared.
The Iranian authorities have confirmed this seizure hours after a boarding by “unauthorized persons” and the loss of contact with the ship were reported, according to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the company that owns the ship. the ship.
The Iranian Navy has indicated that the seized ship is “American”, emphasizing that it was recently renamed, since it was previously called ‘Suez Rajan’, and has added that the seizure has taken place following an order issued by a court, without There will be more details about this at the moment, as reported by the Iranian news agency Mehr.
This incident took place on the same day that the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the Yemeni Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, launched an anti-ship ballistic missile around 2:00 a.m. (local time) in the Gulf. from Aden. The missile reportedly hit the water, with no injuries or damage reported.
Subsequently, the United States and the United Kingdom have bombed targets of the Houthi insurgency, which has controlled Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and other areas in the north and west of the country since 2015, in an attempt to reduce their ability to continue threatening the security of Commercial ships in the Red Sea.
