Khaberni - On Tuesday, Iran demanded an Israeli businessman to pay a fine of $170 million after it intercepted his cargo ship in April 2024.
The spokesman for the Iranian judiciary, Asghar Jahangir, said that the case of the ship intercepted by the Iranian Guards in April 2024 was referred to the court with an indictment and a fine request of $170 million for its Israeli owner Eyal Ofer, accusing him of "funding terrorism".
Jahangir explained that "the ship, registered in Portugal and flying the flag of one of the islands, entered Iranian territorial waters last year, and was detained by the naval force of the Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz, due to its violation of international regulations and its failure to respond to competent authorities".
He confirmed that "based on the law of the maritime zones of the Islamic Republic of Iran, this ship violates the principles of security and peace in the country and the region," according to what was reported by the official Iranian news agency "IRNA".
Jahangir noted that the judiciary is investigating this case.
The "Times of Israel" reported that the "MSC Ares" ship was intercepted in April 2024, and its international crew of 25 people was detained, and later released.
Ofer is 75 years old, and was previously ranked by "Forbes" magazine earlier this year as the richest Israeli with a fortune worth $28.2 billion.
