Strait of Hormuz Alert: Commercial Vessel Runs Aground After Leaving Designated Shipping Lane
Technical talks continue as Tehran warns it will respond if negotiations collapse.
Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz remain high as Iran reported a foreign container ship ran aground after allegedly ignoring its designated shipping route through the strategic waterway. The incident comes as US and Iranian officials prepare for another round of indirect technical talks in Doha aimed at advancing their memorandum of understanding. Meanwhile, Iran’s state broadcaster has drawn criticism after cutting short an interview with the country’s chief negotiator discussing sanctions, oil exports and nuclear inspections.
Israel defence minister says troops to stay ‘indefinitely’ in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza
Israel’s defence minister said Wednesday that Israeli forces would remain in self-proclaimed “security zones” established in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, without any timeline for withdrawal.
“The IDF will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza indefinitely in order to protect our residents and communities from jihadist elements,” Israel Katz said.
“We will not withdraw from the security zones,” Katz said at function held in honour of Israeli soldiers killed during the 2006 war in Lebanon.
Katz also reiterated an earlier warning to Iran, saying the Islamic republic would be struck with “full force” if it attacked Israel over its operations in Lebanon.
A ship ran aground in Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state TV reports
A ship ran aground in the Strait of Hormuz after not running Iran’s approved route through the water, Iranian state television reported Wednesday. The report identified the affected vessel as a foreign container ship, but offered no other immediate details.
Iranian state TV said the ship “ran aground with its cargo because of shallow waters along the route it had chosen and was unable to continue sailing.” It said shippers needed to follow the instructions of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in the strait.
The Guard’s navy “has repeatedly warned captains, shipowners and officials of shipping companies around the world that any entry or exit through routes other than the “Route of Authority” in the Persian Gulf could lead to irreparable incidents,” it said. The report did not mention the two ships Iran attacked in recent days for daring to head out through the strait without Tehran’s permission, including one that was carrying crude oil from Qatar.
US, Iran officials to hold indirect talks in Doha
Officials from the United States and Iran will on Wednesday hold indirect technical talks on their deal aimed at ending the Middle East war, a diplomat with knowledge of the talks told AFP.
“US and Iranian officials are to hold indirect technical talks on Wednesday in Doha with Qatari and Pakistani mediators on the memorandum of understanding building on the progress made at the Lake Lucerne Summit,” the diplomat said.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will not be taking part in the technical talks, the diplomat added, after they met with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Tuesday.
Both the US and Iran had said they would send officials for meetings in Qatar.
Source: Gulf News
