Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for targeting the Panama-flagged container ship MSC Sariska V with a cruise missile, saying the strike was retaliation for an earlier attack on an Iranian vessel near Oman.
The claim came after a cargo ship was hit by an explosion yesterday while sailing in the Arabian Gulf, about 40 nautical miles southeast of Iraq’s Umm Qasr port.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations said the blast occurred on the vessel’s starboard side and was followed by a large explosion. All crew members were reported safe, and the ship continued its voyage. No environmental damage was reported.
The vessel was later identified as MSC Sariska V. However, preliminary investigations cited by Iraqi media suggested the explosion may have been caused by an internal mechanical malfunction rather than an external attack. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.