Biden to return to Washington amid Iran threats against Israel

The US Embassy in Lebanon has warned Americans about “the security environment” in the country and has asked them “to monitor the news for breaking developments.”

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US officials, including President Joe Biden have been warning in the past two days about a potential Iranian retaliatory attack against Israel that could spiral into a wider military confrontation in the region.

“We recommend that U.S. citizens in Lebanon monitor Travel.State.Gov for alerts and the news closely for breaking developments that could affect internal security,” the Embassy announced.

Further, the announcement warned against travel to potentially dangerous part of the country. “U.S. citizens should avoid travel to the Lebanon-Israel border area, the Lebanon-Syria border area, and refugee settlements. In all parts of Lebanon, you should avoid demonstrations and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings or protests.”

Historically, a large number of American-Lebanese dual nationals have lived in Lebanon, as well as visiting Americans who may be affiliated with the American University of Beirut or other organizations.

Many European countries have either evacuated government employees, their families, or have made preparations for emergency evacuation from certain parts of the Middle East, including Iran. Several European airlines have also temporarily suspended flights to Iran.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seized a cargo vessel in the Persian Gulf on Saturday claiming that it is Israeli. Apparently, the ship belongs to a company which is partly owned by an Israeli investor.

Follow developments on Iran International's Live coverage of ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel.

AMSTERDAM, April 13 (Reuters) - Dutch foreign minister Hanke Bruins Slot told her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a phone call that Iran should not attack Israel and should take actions to "de-escalate", she said on social media platform X.

"During the conversation I also expressed my great concerns about the ship that was hijacked in the Strait of Hormuz and that these types of actions must stop", she added.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, days after Tehran said it could close the crucial shipping route, and warned it would retaliate for an Israeli strike on its consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus.

It is forbidden in Iran for strangers from the opposite sex to touch one another or show any sort of intimacy, specially in public.

On Friday, a young woman in Iran took a risk, running onto the field without wearing the compulsory hijab and was hugged by Esteghlal FC goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini during a match against another Iranian team, Aluminum Arak.

Khazali responded by writing to the minister of sports demanding that "guidelines for women's entry into stadiums be put into full effect as they are poorly implemented.”

The situation degraded when the police intervened to push Hosseini and the fan apart, leading to an altercation. Later he gave his jersey to her and she proudly waved it to the fans, who were shouting "shame on you" at the police.

In response, the Iranian Football League Organization has summoned Hosseini to a disciplinary committee for his hug, noting it to be "unprofessional and beyond the legal duties of a player."

The IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency also used the incident to criticize the policy of women in stadiums.

Iran’s approach to women spectators in sports venues has not only led to domestic controversy but also international scrutiny.

Despite some previous measures to relax restrictions, such as controlled entry for women, the backlash from 2022 nationwide protests led to a reversal, culminating in matches being held without any spectators for several months.

Follow developments on Iran International's Live coverage of ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel.

According to IRNA, Iranian state news agency, IRGC's Navy Special Force took control of the Portuguese-flagged vessel after the heliborne Iranian forces landed on its deck.

The incident took place 50 nautical miles (92 km) northeast of the Fujairah, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced.

Citing “some news sources,” IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency said the vessel, called “MSC Aries,” belongs to London-based Zodiac Maritime shipping company which is “owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer.”

IRNA introduced Ofer as “the Zionist capitalist.” Last November, Yemeni Houthis aligned with and supported by the Islamic Republic, attacked vessels also partly owned by Ofer.

The Zodiac Maritime confirmed the incident in a statement, further adding that the vessel is operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

“MSC is responsible for all vessel activities including cargo operations and maintenance. Title to the vessel is held by Gortal Shipping Inc as financier and she has been leased to MSC on a long-term basis. Gortal Shipping Inc is affiliated with Zodiac Maritime,” read the statement.

According to Reuters, Ofer “partly” owns the Zodiac Maritime.

The recent move by the IRGC comes against the backdrop of ongoing escalation in the region as Iranian officials constantly vow retaliation for the deaths of top IRGC generals in an Israeli precision missile strike in Damascus on April 1.

Despite the harsh anti-Israeli rhetoric by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior figures of the Islamic Republic, the IRGC had not made any concrete moves to carry out such threats before today’s takeover of the ship.

Meanwhile, defense journalist Babak Taghvaee revealed on X that the vessel boarded by Iranian forces contacted and sought help from the European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASoH) stationed in the region, but “naval forces of the US and France decided to allow the IRGC capture it” and “no one helped” the cargo ship.

Jason Brodsky, Policy Director at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), also wrote on X that the boarding may be “part of a multi-layered response from Iran which wants to maintain attention and exhaust Israel.”

Following the incident, the Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari warned in a video message in English that “Iran will bear the consequences for choosing to escalate the situation any further.”

Calling the Iranian regime “the world’s biggest state sponsor of terror,” he stressed that Tehran’s network of terror not only threatens people in Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, but provokes conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere.

According to Hagari, Israel and its allies are ready to take the necessary measures to protect the Israeli nation: “Israel is on high alert. We have increased our readiness to protect Israel from further Iranian aggression. We are also prepared to respond.”

CNN reported on Friday that Iran may attack Israel from inside its territory where it has been moving around such weapons as missiles and drones.

However, no major incidents took place from Friday into Saturday, giving credence to those who argue that Tehran might have adopted a mental game of attrition with Israel.

Also on Friday, US President Joe Biden confirmed that Iran’s reprisals would occur “sooner than later,” but the regime “will not succeed” as Washington is committed to Israel’s security and will help it defend itself against threats.

Follow developments on Iran International's Live coverage of ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel.