EU condemns hijacking of Portuguese-flagged ship and calls for its release

The European Commission’s representative for security policy and foreign affairs this Saturday condemned Iran’s seizure of a Portuguese-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz and called for its release.

“The European Union condemns Iran’s seizure of the Portuguese ship MSC Aries in the Strait of Hormuz and calls for its release. In a difficult regional context, we call on all parties not to escalate tensions. Freedom of navigation is important in international law. and a fundamental principle for the EU,” wrote Nabila Massrali on her official account on X (formerly Twitter).

A Portuguese-flagged cargo ship was attacked this Saturday near the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces, an Iranian news agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards reported.

Iran’s state agency IRNA reported the attack on the ship near the Strait of Hormuz after reports of an attack on the same ship believed to have been carried out by the Revolutionary Guards, an Iranian paramilitary force that has carried out similar attacks in the past.

The ship was MSC Aries, sailed under the Portuguese flag and was associated with the international company Zodiac Maritime, part of a group owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.

According to the Tasmin news agency, which is affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, the robbed ship is “linked to the Zionist regime.”

Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel “strongly” condemned the hijacking and said Portugal’s ambassador to Tehran would meet the Iranian diplomatic chief on Sunday to seek clarification on the incident.

Depending on the meeting, Portugal’s diplomatic measures in the face of this incident may or may not deteriorate, he said.

There are 25 crew members on the ship, among whom there are no Portuguese, the majority are Indians (17 people), as well as Pakistanis, a Russian and a European citizen from Estonia.