Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Iran hit tanker to distract from Georgia assassination plot - Israeli officials - Jerusalem Post Staff, Reuters

 

by Jerusalem Post Staff, Reuters

The targeted tanker is operated by a Singapore-based company owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer.

 

Tanker Pacific Zircon is seen at sea near Isle of Wright, Britain in this undated handout picture. (photo credit: David Potter/Handout via REUTERS)
Tanker Pacific Zircon is seen at sea near Isle of Wright, Britain in this undated handout picture.
(photo credit: David Potter/Handout via REUTERS)

Iran attacked an oil tanker connected to an Israeli businessman in an attempt to distract from a failed assassination plot against an Israeli businessman in Georgia, Israeli officials stated on Wednesday.

The oil tanker, the Pacific Zircon, is a Liberian-flagged oil tanker operated by the Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. The tanker itself is owned by Japanese firm Taihei Kaiun Company, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence. A statement by Eastern Pacific confirmed that the vessel had been hit by a "projectile," lightly damaging the hull. No injuries were caused in the attack.

Israeli officials stressed that the Israeli connection to the tanker is very small. The officials added that the same type of Iranian drone being used by Russia in Ukraine, the Shahed 136, was used in the attack.

"This is another event that proves that Iran acts as a global exporter of terrorism. This is another time that Iran is harming global freedom of navigation," said the officials. "Iran undermines security in the Gulf and, along the way, undermines stability during the World Cup."

 

The Iranian Nour News, affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, accused Israel and its Gulf allies of targeting the tanker in an attempt to "transfer" difficulties surrounding forming a government in Israel and in order to raise tensions and distract Iran and Qatar with "marginal events."

An oil tanker is seen after it was attacked at the Gulf of Oman (Illustrative) (credit: ISNA/REUTERS)An oil tanker is seen after it was attacked at the Gulf of Oman (Illustrative) (credit: ISNA/REUTERS)

The United States Navy's Fifth Fleet is aware of an incident in the Gulf of Oman involving a commercial vessel, Commander Timothy Hawkins told Reuters on Wednesday.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Wednesday an investigation was ongoing after reports that a tanker had been hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman.

"UKMTO are aware of reports of an incident in the Gulf of Oman/Arabian Sea, investigations are ongoing. Vessel and crew are safe," it said on its website.

What happened to the Israeli-owned oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman?

According to shipping tracking site MarineTraffic, the tanker, Pacific Zircon, was last seen off the coast of Liwa, Oman on Monday morning. It departed from Sohar, Oman on Monday afternoon with its destination set as the port of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The ship last reported signaling its position near the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.

Iranian vessels headed for Syria

The reported Iranian attack came as three Iranian vessels were headed for the coast of Syria.

On Wednesday morning, the Iranian AZARGOUN container ship arrived at the port of Latakia on the coast of Syria, according to vessel tracker MarineTraffic. The vessel is subject to US sanctions.

The Iranian  ARMAN114 and the LOTUS oil tankers were also reportedly headed towards the Syrian coast in recent days, with satellite imagery showing the two departing the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea. 

 

Jerusalem Post Staff, Reuters

Source: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-722536

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