Iran has denied carrying out those attacks.
Iran or its regional proxies are believed to be behind a number of attacks on shipping in the strategic Persian Gulf in recent years, including incidents involving two Saudi oil tankers in May 2019. Israel has been one of the most vocal opponents of the nuclear accord. President Joe Biden says his new administration is open to diplomacy with Tehran after his predecessor Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear accord and reimposed sanctions, prompting Iran to gradually breach its commitments.īut the two sides remain locked in disagreement over which country must move first, with Iran wanting immediate sanctions relief and the United States demanding Iran first return to compliance with its nuclear commitments. It also comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran over the fate of the 2015 nuclear deal. air strikes on February 25 targeted Iran-backed militia groups in eastern Syria believed to be behind a spate of recent rocket attacks on U.S. The explosion occurred around the same time as U.S. "Such activity would be commensurate with current tensions and Iranian intent to exercise forceful diplomacy through military means within its immediate area of interest," Dryad said. The ship is registered in the British Isle of Man.ĭryad Global, a British maritime security company, suggested a "realistic probability" that Iran was behind the explosion. Tracking data on showed the Bahamas-flagged vessel currently docked in Dubai's Port Rashid. The explosion did not cause any casualties but left two 1.5-meter-diameter holes in the side of the vessel, the ship's Israeli owner, Rami Ungar, told Kan on February 26. Gantz said it was known Iran was looking to target Israeli infrastructure and citizens. Iran has blamed Israel for the assassination of its top nuclear scientist in November and vowed to retaliate. "We are aware a cargo ship was damaged off the coast of Oman," the spokesman said.Īn Israeli delegation was traveling to Dubai to investigate the incident, Israeli Channel 13 News reported on February 28.Īn Associated Press journalist reported seeing the hulking ship already sitting at the dry-dock facilities on February 28. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the United Arab Emirates' state port operator, DP World, said on February 28 that the damage to the MV Helios Ray would be assessed on March 1 at Dubai Drydocks. There was no immediate response from Iranian officials. "Right now, at an initial assessment level, given the proximity and the context that is my assessment," Gantz said. "The location of the ship in relative close proximity to Iran raises the belief that Iran was responsible, but it must still be verified," Gantz told Israeli state television Kan. Satellite-tracking data from website showed the Helios Ray had been close to the Arabian Sea around 6am on Friday before it suddenly turned around and began heading back toward. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on February 27 that Iran was probably behind the explosion that struck the Israeli-owned vehicle carrier above the water line as it was traveling from the Saudi port of Dammam to Singapore.
Israel's state-owned Kan television quoted unnamed Israeli officials as saying Iran had "crossed a red line" in connection with an explosion on February 25 that struck the MV Helios Ray. Ship Owners, Operators, and Masters are advised to follow guidance in accordance with BMP 5 and national authorities and review the guidance and responses contained within the IMSC Bridge Cards.Top Israeli defense and political leaders are scheduled to meet on February 28 to discuss a response to what Israel's defense minister says was likely an attack by Iran against a an Israeli-owned cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman. Masters are encouraged to report incidents to IMSC via UKMTO. Local and international media periodically report that Arab coalition forces have intercepted and destroyed land-based Houthi missiles fired from Yemen toward Saudi Arabia. Within this MODERATE Yemen threat zone, the main risk is criminal in nature as well as mis-calculation by local Houthi elements. Meanwhile, the threat within the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait (BAM) also remains unchanged for IMSC flagged vessels at LOW-MODERATE based on significant Houthi-Saudi Arabia kinetic engagements largely outside of the maritime environment, with the higher evaluation being for areas within 100nm of the Yemen coast or outside the Traffic Separation Scheme.
Of note, MV HELIOS RAY’s ship manager and ship owner have address locations in Israel.ĭue to this explosion and the seizure of M/T HANKUK CHEMI in January 2021, the threat within the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman remains unchanged at LOW-MODERATE for IMSC flagged vessels. The cause of the HELIOS RAY explosion is under investigation, but analysts speculate the damage is consistent with limpet mines based on the similarity to the damage suffered by MV KOKUKA COURAGEOUS during an Iranian limpet mine attack in June 2019.
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