Iran has demanded $170 million from the owner of a cargo ship it seized last year in Gulf waters over alleged connections to Israel, an Iranian judiciary official said Tuesday.

Islamic Revolutionary Guards naval forces hijacked the MSC Aries , a Portuguese-flagged vessel owned by Gortal Shipping Inc, which is affiliated to Zodiac Maritime and chartered to MSC, close to the Strait of Hormuz in April 2024. The ship’s 25 international crew members were detained, and some were later freed.

AFP quoted judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir as saying that charges had been filed and the case was before the courts, although no trial date has been set.

“A fine of $170 million has been demanded against its owner, of Israeli origin, accused of financing terrorism,” said Jahangir. He further c

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