Nuclear Iran

[Reece]

[em2nought]

Toxic fertilizer spewing into the Red Sea? Great!

[Jimbuna]

Houthi attack sinks ship - US military warns of risks for Red Sea

As a result of the sinking of the bulk carrier MV Rubymar in the Red Sea, which was carrying over 40,000 tons of fertilizer and was attacked by Yemeni Houthi rebels nearly two weeks ago, an environmental hazard is emerging in the waters. Additionally, there is a risk of collision with the underwater environment for other vessels, according to Twitter (X) of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).

The American military noted that yesterday, March 2nd, at approximately 2:15 a.m., the commercial vessel Rubymar sank. The ship was flying the flag of Belize and was owned by the United Kingdom. This vessel was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels supported by Iran on February 18th.
"The ship had been slowly taking on water since the unprovoked attack," the statement informs.

As reported by CENTCOM, approximately 21,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate-sulfate fertilizer, which the vessel was transporting, pose an environmental hazard in the Red Sea.

"As the ship sinks it also presents a subsurface impact risk to other ships transiting the busy shipping lanes of the waterway," added the US military.

The statement also emphasizes that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose "a heightened threat to global maritime activities."

"The United States and coalition partners remain committed to safeguarding freedom of navigation, striving to enhance the safety and security of international waters for merchant shipping," added in CENTCOM.

Preceding events

Earlier on Saturday, March 2nd, Western media reported that the vessel Rubymar had sunk in the Red Sea after being attacked by Yemeni Houthi rebels. This marked the first ship to go down following the militants' attack.

It was noted that after sustaining damages, the vessel drifted uncontrollably in the Red Sea before sinking. The ship's crew was evacuated. The damage to the vessel resulted in a fuel leak, posing a serious threat to the ecology. Specifically, a kilometer-long oil slick formed around the ship.

US operation in response to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea

Recall that since November 2023, Yemeni Houthi attacks on trading vessels with ties to Israel have persisted in the Red Sea. In early January, the US and UK launched powerful strikes against Houthi-related targets in Yemen in response to the militants' ongoing attacks on civilian ships in the Red Sea.

On January 28th, it was reported that a Houthi drone in the Red Sea attacked a British military vessel, and the following day, the Yemeni Houthis claimed to have attacked an American destroyer. However, the Pentagon refuted the militants' claim.

Prior to this, on February 6th, it was reported that a British cargo ship was attacked by Houthis in the Red Sea. On February 7th, Houthis launched six anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen toward two commercial vessels in the southern part of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They did not cause any damage to the vessels, and one missile was intercepted and shot down by US military forces. Two days later, US military forces launched a series of strikes against Houthi cruise missiles and surface drones in Yemen.

Additionally, on February 26th, Houthis again attacked a tanker in the Gulf of Aden flying the American flag. Several days prior, they conducted an attack in the Red Sea on a US humanitarian aid ship.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...be6d3d2e&ei=30

[Jimbuna]

Ship caught fire after missile hit it, Swiss operator confirms

A Swiss shipping operator has confirmed a missile hit its container ship yesterday, causing a fire.

MSC said its Sky II was struck 85 miles southeast of Aden in Yemen while sailing from Singapore to Djibouti.

"The missile caused a small fire that has been extinguished while no crew were injured," MSC said.

"She is currently continuing her journey to Djibouti and will arrive today for further assessment."

Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto said Houthi forces had attacked the Liberian-flagged vessel.

"I am not aware that either Switzerland, Liberia or Djibouti have ever participated in any way in the ongoing conflict in Gaza," Crosetto said on X, seemingly in reference to the Houthis' claims that they only attack ships affiliated with Israel, the US or UK.

[em2nought]

Seems like drilling for oil in your own vast reserves of your own country might just be better for the environment than getting your fix from the Middle East.

[ET2SN]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Ship caught fire after missile hit it, Swiss operator confirms

A Swiss shipping operator has confirmed a missile hit its container ship yesterday, causing a fire.

MSC said its Sky II was struck 85 miles southeast of Aden in Yemen while sailing from Singapore to Djibouti.

"The missile caused a small fire that has been extinguished while no crew were injured," MSC said.

"She is currently continuing her journey to Djibouti and will arrive today for further assessment."

Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto said Houthi forces had attacked the Liberian-flagged vessel.

"I am not aware that either Switzerland, Liberia or Djibouti have ever participated in any way in the ongoing conflict in Gaza," Crosetto said on X, seemingly in reference to the Houthis' claims that they only attack ships affiliated with Israel, the US or UK.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_o...of_Liberia.svg

Jim, remember what the Liberian flag looks like?

[Jimbuna]

Three killed in Houthi missile attack on cargo ship in Gulf of Aden

Three crew members have been killed in a Houthi missile strike on a cargo ship off southern Yemen, its owners and the US say - the first deaths caused by the group's attacks on merchant vessels.

The Barbados-flagged True Confidence was abandoned after Wednesday's attack, which inflicted significant damage.

Two of the sailors who died were Filipinos and the other was Vietnamese.

The Houthis say their attacks are in support of the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

A military spokesman for the Iran-backed group claimed it targeted True Confidence because it was "American" - something the owners denied.

The US military's Central Command (Centcom) condemned the Houthis' "reckless attacks", which it said had "disrupted global trade and taken the lives of international seafarers".

Hours after the attack, US forces conducted strikes on two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Yemen, which Centcom said presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships in the region. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that two strikes targeted the airport in the Red Sea city of Hudaydah.

The attack on True Confidence occurred around 12:30 (09:30 GMT) on Wednesday, when the bulk carrier was in the Gulf of Aden, about 50 nautical miles (93km) south-west of the city of Aden, according to its owners.

The vessel was manned by a crew of 20, comprising one Indian, four Vietnamese and 15 Filipino nationals. Three armed guards - two from Sri Lanka and one from Nepal - were also on board.

A Centcom statement said the 183m-long bulk carrier was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

It published an aerial photograph showing significant damage to the bridge and accommodation at the stern of the stricken vessel, on the port side.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said that before the attack True Confidence had been contacted over VHF radio by a group calling itself the "Yemeni navy" and told to change course.

Nearby vessels then reported a loud bang and a large plume of smoke.

The Indian Navy's spokesperson said INS Kolkata, a destroyer deployed in the region as part of a US-led naval taskforce, arrived at the scene on Wednesday afternoon and rescued 21 crew members using a helicopter and boats.

Indian sailors provided critical medical aid to the injured and evacuated them to Djibouti on Wednesday evening, the spokesperson added.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68490695

[Otto Harkaman]

[Otto Harkaman]

There are several confirmed sources that indicate that Iran is supplying the Houthi rebels in Yemen with missiles and other weapons. Here are some of them:

- **DIA report**: The Defense Intelligence Agency released an unclassified report in February 2024 that provides a comparative analysis of publicly available images of Iranian missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to those displayed and employed by Houthi forces in Yemen. The report states that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) has been providing the Houthis with a growing arsenal of sophisticated weapons and training since 2014⁴.
- **UK evidence**: Britain presented evidence in January 2024 that Iran is supplying advanced weapons to the Houthis, after finding images of tests conducted at the headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards in Tehran on the hard drive of an unmanned aircraft seized by the Royal Navy⁶.
- **U.S. Navy admiral**: Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, said in an interview with CBS News in February 2024 that Iran has been resupplying, advising, and providing target information to the Houthis for a decade. He said that the Houthis have been using anti-ship ballistic missiles that have never been used in a conflict before⁵.

These sources show that Iran is enabling the Houthi attacks across the Middle East, threatening freedom of navigation and international commerce in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. 🚢🚀

Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/8/2024
(1) DIA report confirms the Houthis’ use of Iranian missiles and unmanned .... https://www.dia.mil/News-Features/Ar...ed-aerial-veh/.
(2) UK Presents Evidence Linking Iran in Houthi Weapon Supply. https://www.voanews.com/a/uk-present...y/6961928.html.
(3) U.S. Navy three-star admiral discusses the mission to stop Houthi Red .... https://www.cbsnews.com/news/houthi-...se-60-minutes/.
(4) Iranian, Houthi naval attacks escalate. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...te/ar-BB1juWmG.
(5) Houthi missile kills 3 sailors in Gulf of Aden. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...en/ar-BB1jv9q6.
(6) Houthi missile attack kills 3 crew members in Yemen rebels' first fatal assault on shipping. https://abcnews.go.com/International...uthi-107829276.
(7) undefined. https://www.dia.mil/Military-Power-Publications.

[Otto Harkaman]

The current sanctions on Iran are imposed by various entities, including the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, and other countries. Here is a brief overview of some of the major sanctions:

- **U.S. Sanctions**:
- The United States has imposed sanctions on Iran since 1979, following the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. The sanctions have been expanded and modified over the years, targeting various sectors and activities of the Iranian regime, such as nuclear and ballistic missile programs, human rights abuses, terrorism, and regional destabilization.
- The U.S. sanctions block Iranian government assets in the United States, ban nearly all U.S. trade with Iran (except food and agricultural commodities, medicine, medical supplies, and humanitarian-related goods), and prohibit foreign assistance and arms sales to Iran. The sanctions also impose secondary sanctions on non-U.S. persons and entities that engage in certain transactions with Iran or designated Iranian persons and entities.
- The U.S. sanctions were partially lifted in 2016, following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a multilateral agreement that aimed to limit Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, in 2018, the United States withdrew from the JCPOA and re-imposed the sanctions that had been waived or suspended under the agreement. The U.S. sanctions were further expanded in 2019 and 2020 to cover Iran's financial sector, metals industry, oil exports, and other sources of revenue¹².

- **U.N. Sanctions**:
- The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has imposed sanctions on Iran since 2006, in response to Iran's failure to comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UNSC resolutions on its nuclear program. The sanctions include an arms embargo, a ban on Iran's ballistic missile activities, travel bans and asset freezes on designated individuals and entities, and restrictions on Iran's nuclear-related and dual-use items and technology transfers.
- The U.N. sanctions were lifted in 2016, as part of the JCPOA implementation. However, in 2020, the United States attempted to invoke the "snapback" mechanism of the JCPOA, which would restore all the previous U.N. sanctions on Iran. The U.S. move was rejected by the other parties to the JCPOA and the majority of the UNSC members, who argued that the United States had no legal standing to trigger the snapback after withdrawing from the agreement³⁴.

- **E.U. Sanctions**:
- The European Union has imposed sanctions on Iran since 2007, in support of the U.N. resolutions and the international efforts to address Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile issues. The E.U. sanctions include an arms embargo, a ban on Iran's ballistic missile activities, travel bans and asset freezes on designated individuals and entities, and restrictions on Iran's nuclear-related and dual-use items and technology transfers. The E.U. sanctions also target Iran's oil and gas sector, financial sector, transportation sector, and other areas of concern.
- The E.U. sanctions were lifted in 2016, as part of the JCPOA implementation. The E.U. has remained committed to the JCPOA and has opposed the U.S. withdrawal and re-imposition of sanctions. The E.U. has also established a special mechanism, known as INSTEX, to facilitate legitimate trade with Iran and circumvent the U.S. sanctions. However, the E.U. has also expressed concerns over Iran's breaches of its JCPOA commitments and its regional activities, and has imposed additional sanctions on Iran for human rights violations and involvement in terrorist plots⁵ .

- **Other Countries' Sanctions**:
- Several other countries have also imposed sanctions on Iran, either in coordination with the U.S., the U.N., or the E.U., or independently. These countries include Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The sanctions vary in scope and severity, but generally target Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, human rights abuses, terrorism, and regional destabilization. Some of these countries have also lifted or eased their sanctions in accordance with the JCPOA, while others have followed the U.S. lead and re-imposed or expanded their sanctions .

These are some of the current sanctions on Iran. For more information, you can visit the websites of the relevant authorities, such as the U.S. Department of State¹, the U.N. Security Council³, the E.U. External Action Service⁵, or the respective governments of other countries. 🌎🔒

Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/8/2024
(1) Iran Sanctions - United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/iran-sanctions/.
(2) Iran Sanctions | Office of Foreign Assets Control. https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-...iran-sanctions.
(3) United States sanctions against Iran - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United...s_against_Iran.
(4) July 20, 2023 U.S. Sanctions on Iran - CRS Reports. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12452.
(5) International sanctions against Iran - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intern...s_against_Iran.

[Jimbuna]

Houthi spokesperson confirms drone attacks on US war destroyers

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have confirmed reports the group targeted US war destroyers early this morning.

In a televised speech, the group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the Houthis targeted bulk carrier Propel Fortune in the Gulf of Aden, adding they targeted "a number of US war destroyers at the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with 37 drones".

The Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November in what they say is a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians during the war in Gaza.

Earlier, the US Navy said its ships and aircraft shot down 15 uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea area between 4am and 6.30am.

[Jimbuna]

US-British forces strike Houthi targets in Yemen, Houthi outlet says

ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) - Yemen's port city of Hodeidah and other western coastal areas were hit on Monday by a dozen airstrikes attributed to a U.S.-British coalition defending ships in the Red Sea, according to Al Masirah, the main Houthi-run television news outlet.

The strikes follow the first civilian fatalities and vessel loss since the Iran-aligned Houthis began attacking commercial shipping in November. They also coincide with the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting for Muslims.

Al Masirah did not specify which targets, if any, had been hit, but said four of the strikes had been on the port of Ras Issa.

Despite reprisals from the U.S.-British coalition and other navies, the Houthis have escalated their campaign of attacks on commercial vessels in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, which they say is in solidarity with the Palestinians under attack in Gaza in Israel's war with Hamas.
The Houthis killed three crew of the Barbados-flagged, Greek-operated True Confidence on Wednesday in an attack off the port of Aden.

That came days after the sinking of the cargo ship Rubymar, which went down about two weeks after being hit by a Houthi missile on Feb. 18.

Many ships are now making the longer, more expensive trip around Africa's Cape of Good Hope to avoid the dangerous route through the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal - sharply raising shipping costs.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...3d79ab85&ei=22

[Jimbuna]

Report claims Yemen’s Houthis have a hypersonic missile, possibly raising stakes in Red Sea crisis

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim to have a new, hypersonic missile in their arsenal, Russia’s state media reported Thursday, potentially raising the stakes in their ongoing attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways against the backdrop of Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The report by the state-run RIA Novosti news agency cited an unnamed official but provided no evidence for the claim. It comes as Moscow maintains an aggressively counter-Western foreign policy amid its grinding war on Ukraine.

However, the Houthis have for weeks hinted about “surprises” they plan for the battles at sea to counter the United States and its allies, which have so far been able to down any missile or bomb-carrying drone that comes near their warships in Mideast waters.

The Houthis’ main benefactor, Iran, claims to have a hypersonic missile and has widely armed the rebels with the missiles they now use. Adding a hypersonic missile to their arsenal could pose a more-formidable challenge to the air defense systems employed by America and its allies, including Israel.

“The group’s missile forces have successfully tested a missile that is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 8 and runs on solid fuel,” a military official close to the Houthis said, according to the RIA report. The Houthis “intend to begin manufacturing it for use during attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as well as against targets in Israel.”

Mach 8 is eight times the speed of sound.

Russia has maintained close ties with Iran, relying on Iranian bomb-carrying drones to target Ukraine. Russian state media, particularly its Arabic-language services, have closely reported on Yemen’s yearslong civil war that pits the Iran-backed Houthis against forces of the internationally backed Yemeni government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition.

Hypersonic weapons, which fly at speeds higher than Mach 5, could pose crucial challenges to missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability.

The danger from a hypersonic missile depends on how maneuverable it is. Ballistic missiles fly on a trajectory in which anti-missile systems like the U.S.-made Patriot can anticipate their path and intercept them. The more irregular the missile’s flight path, such as a hypersonic missile with the ability to change directions, the more difficult it becomes to intercept.

China is believed to be pursuing the weapons, as is America. Russia claims it has already used them on the battlefield in Ukraine. However, speed and maneuverability isn’t a guarantee the missile will successfully strike a target. Ukraine’s air force in May said it shot down a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile with a Patriot battery.

In Yemen, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the Houthi rebels’ secretive supreme leader, boasted about the rebels’ weapons efforts at the end of February.

“We have surprises that the enemies do not expect at all,” he warned at the time.

A week ago, he similarly warned: “What is coming is greater.”
https://apnews.com/article/yemen-hou...14fbb80bf24716

[Jimbuna]

Iran, Russia and China will show off their marine capabilities in a joint naval drill

Iran will begin a joint naval drill with Russia and China in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, state media reported Tuesday.

Iran has stepped up its military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow in response to regional tensions with the United States, including by supplying military drones to Russia before the European nation invaded Ukraine in 2022. Visits to Iran by Russian and Chinese naval representatives have also increased in recent years.

A report by state TV quoted the drill's spokesperson, Adm. Mostafa Tajaddini, as saying that “Marine Security Belt 2024” will begin later Tuesday in 17 thousand square kilometers (6,600 square miles) of the water. The drill is aimed at “fostering security and multilateral cooperation,” as well as showing the allies' good will and naval capacities.

He said that the three nations' drill — their fourth since 2019 — was also meant to improve trade, confront “piracy and terrorism, support to humanitarian activities, exchange of information in the field of rescue,” among other goals.

The report said Oman, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and South Africa would be observers in the drill.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/i...-b2511202.html

[Jimbuna]

Indian military recaptured cargo ship from Somali pirates: 17 crew members rescued

Indian Navy, with the assistance of special forces, recaptured a cargo ship from the Somali pirates and rescued 17 crew members, informs Reuters.

It is reported that all 35 pirates on board the cargo ship Ruen under the Maltese flag surrendered. The military also inspected the vessel for illegal weapons, ammunition, and contraband. Ruen was hijacked by pirates last year.

According to Indian military sources, the ship could have been used as a floating base for the capture of other cargo vessels off the coast of Somalia. The hijacking of Ruen marks the first successful hijacking involving Somali pirates since 2017 when aggressive measures by international naval forces halted a series of seizures in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
In recent months, India has deployed at least 12 military ships east of the Red Sea to ensure maritime security. As previously stated by Indian Navy representatives, since December 1, military forces have recorded at least 17 cases of hijacking attempts, attempted hijackings, and suspicious approaches to ships.

Earlier, the Indian Navy evacuated the crew of the vessel True Confidence, which had previously been attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. It is reported that 20 crew members and three armed guards on board were taken to a hospital in Djibouti by an Indian military ship.

On March 6, the British Embassy in Yemen reported the shelling of the vessel True Confidence flying the flag of Barbados. The diplomatic mission stated that at least two sailors were killed in the attack. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that True Confidence allegedly belongs to Americans.

Two of the deceased were Filipino citizens, and the third was Vietnamese. It is noted that during the attack, two more Filipinos also suffered serious injuries.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...1c3cdc78&ei=16