Iranian authorities have not publicly commented on the ship. The blast hit as the ship was sailing from the Saudi port Dammam out of the Gulf of Oman, forcing it to turn to Dubai for inspection. The Helios Ray had discharged cars at various ports in the Persian Gulf before making its way out of the Middle East toward Singapore. Tehran denied any role in the suspected assaults, which happened near the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil choke point. The blast on the ship on Friday recalled a string of attacks on foreign oil tankers in 2019 the US Navy blamed on Iran. Iran has sought to pressure President Joe Biden's administration to grant the sanctions relief it received under the accord with world powers that former president Donald Trump abandoned. It remains unclear what caused the blast but the incident comes amid sharply rising tension between the US and Iran over its unravelling 2015 nuclear deal. Although the crew was unharmed in the blast the vessel sustained two holes on its port side and two on its starboard side just above the waterline, according to American defence officials. The vessel HELIOS RAY (IMO: 9690547, MMSI 311000321) was built in 2015 (7 years old) and is currently sailing under the flag of Bahamas. The vessel is en route to the port of Tianjin, sailing at a speed of 18.5 knots and expected to arrive there on Aug 14, 8 AM. “That’s what I also told my friend President Biden,” the Israeli leader added.Ĭritics have questioned if Netanyahu, who supported Trump’s move to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, would be able to coordinate the Israeli position on the volatile issue with Biden.īiden entered office declaring that he wants to return to the deal in some form, calling Trump’s policy on Iran a failure.An Israeli-owned cargo ship that suffered a mysterious explosion in the Gulf of Oman came to Dubai's port for repairs, days after the blast that revived security concerns in Mideast waterways amid heightened tensions with Iran.Īn Associated Press journalist on Sunday saw the Israeli-owned MV Helios Ray sitting at dry dock facilities in Dubai. The current position of HELIOS RAY is at coordinates 46.6245 N / 161.477 W, reported 34 minutes ago by AIS. In his Monday remarks, Netanyahu reiterated the Israeli line that it was his country’s top priority that “Iran won’t have nuclear weapons, with or without an agreement.” On Sunday, Iran dismissed a European offer for an informal meeting involving the US.
The accord has been nearing collapse since former president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions as part of a “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran. Israel has long accused arch-foe Iran of trying to acquire nuclear weapons, a charge always denied by Tehran.įollowing the election of US President Joe Biden, Washington, the European parties to the deal – France, Germany and Britain – and Tehran have been trying to salvage the troubled 2015 nuclear accord, which granted Iran international sanctions relief in return for restrictions on its nuclear programme. It’s doubtful the HouthisIran’s loyal proxy in Yemenare operationally mature enough to carry out an attack of this complexity. It was not clear what caused the explosion, which punctured the boat’s hull but did not cause any casualties among the crew or damage to the engine. The Israeli-owned cargo vessel MV Helios Ray in a still shot taken from video ostensibly filmed by an Iranian drone. The Israeli army had refused to confirm its involvement in the attack, which came days after the Thursday explosion that hit the Israeli-owned MV Helios Ray, a vehicle carrier travelling from the Saudi port of Dammam to Singapore. There was no immediate report of casualties. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the strike hit the area of Sayyida Zeinab south of Damascus, where Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Lebanese Hezbollah forces are reported to be present. Netanyahu’s remarks came hours after Syrian air defences intercepted what they said were Israeli missiles over Damascus. “Iran is Israel’s greatest enemy, I’m determined to block it, we’re striking at it throughout the region,” he said. “As for a reaction – you know my policy,” he continued. “It is indeed an Iranian act, that’s clear,” Netanyahu told public broadcaster Kan, referring to the MV Helios Ray, which was last week hit by a blast in the Gulf of Oman leaving two holes in its side. The latest escalation between the sides came as the international community was trying to salvage the troubled 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused arch-foe Iran on Monday of a recent attack on an Israeli-owned ship, noting his country was “striking back” the morning after a raid on Syria.