Iran has threatened retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on its consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on April 1. Seven Revolutionary Guard officers were killed, including two senior commanders.
Israel accuses Tehran of piracy
Israel’s military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said that “Iran will bear the consequences of its decision to further escalate this situation.” In turn, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Tehran of piracy.
On Tuesday, Revolutionary Guard naval chief Alireza Tangsiri said he might close the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, if he deemed it necessary.
Analyst Hasan Alhasan from the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates that the seizure of MSC Aries was in retaliation for the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. This means a desire to save face without a wider escalation.
“Iran may try to exploit the fear that it may impede navigation through the strait, a corridor of greater importance to global oil and gas supplies than the Red Sea,” he said. “If Iran limited itself to seizing merchant ships linked to Israel, it would minimize the risk of large-scale conflict but would damage its credibility,” he added.
