An Iranian ship has been attacked, experts point to Israel

Fox News reports that an Iranian ship has been attacked. 

The ship is known as the MV Savis. The Savis is owned by the Islamic Republican of Iran Shipping Lines, and it has been stationed in the Red Sea since 2016.

Many believe that the Savis is a military base for the Revolutionary Guard and that, as such, it has been gathering intelligence in the area.

Iran, however, claims that the Savis is a commercial vessel and that it has been aiding in “anti-piracy” efforts in the Red Sea and in the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

The attack

According to reports, the attack was carried out by a limpet mine. This is a type of naval mine that is attached to the side of a ship by a diver. Then, later, it explodes.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh has stated that “no casualties were reported” from the attack on the Savis. He added that “technical investigations are underway” and that Iran “will take all necessary measures through international authorities.”

As is usually the case, it is not exactly clear who carried out this attack. Currently, it is believed that Israel was behind the attack. The New York Times, in fact, reports an anonymous U.S. official as stating that Israel told America that it had committed the attack, although Israel has not confirmed this.

Iran, somewhat unusually, has not blamed Israel for the attack.

The United States government has stated that it has become aware of the attack, but that it was not involved in it. Otherwise, the U.S. government has said that it has no further information about the attack.

Background

The attack comes as Iran and the United States are holding talks in Vienna in an effort to try to return to an agreement along the lines of former President Barack Obama’s Iran Deal. The United States is looking to loosen up economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for Iran cutting back on its nuclear program.

According to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the talks so far have been a success.

He said on Wednesday, “Today, one united statement is being heard that all sides of the nuclear deal have concluded that there is no better solution than the deal.”

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