After the US air strikes against terror outfits in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, Iran has issued a strong warning not to target a ship that is suspected of providing real-time intelligence for attacks on other vessels in the Red Sea.
A video is published on the telegram channel of Iranian Army on Sunday, in which a narrator says that “those engaging in terrorist activities against the MV Behshad or similar vessels, jeopardize international maritime routes, security and assume global responsibility for potential future international risks”.
The video described the Behshad as a “floating armoury”, which is involved in mission on “counter piracy in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden”. Although it is not publicly known that Tehran has engaged in an anti-piracy operation in the region. Responding to this, Defence Department press secretary Gen. Patrick Ryder responded “I am not aware of the U.S. targeting the Behshad. We are very well aware of the ship.”
What is Behshad?
The Behshad is registered as a commercial cargo ship with an Tehran based company, sanctioned by US Treasury for being a front for the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.
The ship provides electronic intelligence enabling the rebels (Houthis) to spot and target commercial vessels in the region, said an US official expert on this matter.
The Houthi are receiving intel from the Iran to target cargo ships. “They are using intelligence from Iran to give them some targeting information”, said Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, commander of the Eisenhower aircraft carrier safeguarding commercial ships in Red Sea
.
“The Behshad and its sister vessel Safiz are also loaded with Iranian electronic intelligence equipment used to locate target vessels for the Houthis to strike,” said Michael Knights, a military analyst.
The repercussions
These attacks have created large route diversions since December last year that have caused huge delays in global shipping network. Shipping giants like Maersk and MSC have chosen to go around the Cape of Good Hope adding an additional week or two into their journey.
Charles Lister, a fellow at Washington based think tank said, “It’s a sort of open secret within government circles that this ship is causing us quite significant problems”, According to the analysis these reroutes are draining a lot of money from the company which eventually burns a hole in customers pockets.
Just before air strikes on Syria and Iraq by the US, Behshad docked off the coast from the Chinese controlled military base in the African nation of Djibouti near Gulf of Aden.
Why a video?
The video came after Jake Sullivan, NSA of US denied to rule out strikes in Iran after the counter attacks on Iran’s proxies over killing of 3 Americans troops in Jordan a few weeks ago.
During an interview on NBC Sullivan said, “that the president is determined to respond forcefully to attacks on our people. The president also is not looking for a wider war in the Middle East,”
US-Iran a historic struggle
US military has never directly attacked Iran but in April, 1988 the Ronald Regan administration attacked Iranian oil ships and platforms in the gulf in retaliation to mining of USS Samuel B.Roberts, a navy frigate.
Joe Biden is also under a lot of pressure from his republican rivals as 2024 is the election year in the US.
Six days after the attack on Jordan, Biden ordered strikes on Iraq and Syria, which hit more than 85 targets at seven different locations after that further strikes were carried out on Sunday in Yemen.
However, Biden has chosen not to target the Behshad, as it could trigger a direct conflict with Iran.
A ship is an elongation of a state’s sovereignty , so an attack on an Iranian ship would technically be a direct attack on Iran
