Iran demands $170 million from owner of seized ship

Iran has demanded a $170 million fine from the owner of a cargo ship that it seized in Gulf waters last year and accused of having ties to Israel, a judicial official said Tuesday.

The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, intercepted the MSC Aries in April of 2024 and detained its 25 international crew members.

MSC representatives said in a statement at the time of the seizure that Zodiac is a British company headquartered in London and the vessel was "chartered by MSC".

On Tuesday, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said charges had been filed and the case was before the courts, though no date had been set for a trial.

Jahangir said the ship, excluding its cargo, was valued at $170 million.

"A fine of $170 million has been demanded against its owner, of Israeli origin, accused of financing terrorism," Jahangir said.

At the time, the United States denounced the seizure of the ship as an act of piracy and called for its crew to be released.

Israel's foreign minister called on the European Union to designate the Revolutionary Guards a "terrorist organisation" in response.

At least some of the crew were later freed.