DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Iranian cargo ship anchored for years in the Red Sea off Yemen, thought to be a base for the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, was targeted, Tehran reported Wednesday.
MV SAVIZ ATTACKED
The attack on the ship MV Saviz, which Israel is accused of carrying out, was reported by Iran’s Foreign Ministry. The attack came as Iran and world powers met in Vienna for the first time to discuss the United States possibly rejoining Tehran’s shattered nuclear agreement, demonstrating that the problems ahead aren’t limited to those talks.
The ship’s long presence in the region, which Saudi Arabia has repeatedly criticised, comes as the West and UN experts claim Iran has provided arms and support to Yemen’s Houthi rebels during the country’s years-long conflict. Iran denies arming the Houthis, but components used in the rebels’ arms have been linked to the Iranian government.
STATEMENTS
Iran previously described the Saviz as assisting in “anti-piracy” efforts in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical international shipping choke point. According to a statement attributed to Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh, the ship is a commercial vessel.
“Today, one united statement is being heard that all sides of the nuclear deal have concluded that there is no solution better but the deal,” Iranian president qouted.
In a statement, the U.S. military’s Central Command only said it was “aware of media reporting of an incident involving the Saviz in the Red Sea.”
“We must not go back to the dangerous nuclear deal with Iran, because a nuclear Iran is an existential threat to the state of Israel and a great threat to the security of the entire world,” Netanyahu said.
“Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported… and technical investigations are underway.” “Khatibzadeh explained. “Through international authorities, our country will take all necessary measures.”
In an earlier state TV statement, an anchor cited a New York Times storey in which an anonymous US official told the newspaper that Israel informed America of the attack on the ship on Tuesday morning. When contacted by The Associated Press, Israeli officials and the owner of the Saviz both declined to comment on the incident.
However, after being asked to form a government following the country’s recent election, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Iran in a speech to his Likud party on Tuesday.
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