Iran Ramps Up Oil Exports By Relying On Floating Storage

Following Israel's targeting of the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, Tehran and Washington exchanged messages aimed at preventing Iran's "legitimate response to the Zionist regime," according to Nasser Kanaani.

More than 350 drones and missiles were launched by Iran in response to an alleged Israeli airstrike that killed seven officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two senior commanders.

Nasser Kanaani described Iran's action as "necessary and proportionate" and denied any prearranged agreement between Iran and any other country prior to the attack.

Blaming the US complicity for Israel’s attack on April 1st, Nasser Kanaani said: “The Zionist regime would not have had the courage to act against the Iranian consulate without the support of the US.”

According to the White House's top national security spokesperson, John Kirby, on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, the United States will continue to assist Israel in defending itself but does not want to go to war with Iran.

Moreover, US officials stated on Sunday that President Biden informed Prime Minister Netanyahu that the US would not participate in any Israeli counter-offensive against Iran.

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

These worries immediately became evident after Iran announced it had launched drones and missiles that would reach Israel within the next few hours. In several cities long queues formed at gas stations.

This as some groups of tens to a few hundreds of government supporters began their “celebrations” in the streets of some cities.

The general public's worries were not unfounded. The rial depreciated rapidly, even before the missiles neared Israel, falling to more than 700,000 against the dollar.

Sources in Tehran tell Iran International that the government has intervened to recover the rial’s lost value by injecting dollars into the market – taking extreme measures, such as threatening exchange bureaus and online traders with closure, to bring down the rates. Consequently, on Sunday the rial managed to recover almost to the level before the attack to around 660,000 to the dollar.

Government supporters celebrating at Tehran’s Palestine Square Saturday evening

The Tehran Stock Exchange also fell by 11,000 points (around 0.5 percent) by the end of trading on Sunday, but recovered by around five thousand points by midday Monday.

Authorities have prosecuted at least two journalists and two newspapers, including Jahan-e Sanat, an economic daily, for expressing concern over the political and economic consequences of escalation in the situation for “threatening people’s psychological security” and urged people to report anyone who takes Israel’s “side” on social media.

“Most people are still spectators of what is happening and are waiting to see what is to happen next. I don’t see patriotism and a common feeling of national pride for the attack which was on a much bigger scale than anyone thought,” Saman, a 47-year-old retailer in Tehran, told Iran International. “Most people I know believed that the ‘hard revenge’ would be limited to an attack on an Israeli embassy in one of our neighboring countries such as Georgia, Armenia or Azerbaijan,” he said.

According to Saman, people’s discussions of the situation are mainly focused on economic matters such as foreign exchange rates, the rise in the cost of housing, food, and higher inflation in general as a result of the current crisis.

This was corroborated by the statements issued by a teachers and a workers union. The Coordination Council of Teachers Associations, which is highly critical of government policies and often organizes protest rallies through its social media channels, said in a short statement on its Telegram channel that it considers the real victims of the Saturday attack on Israel to be the ordinary Iranians whose livelihoods have been affected by the cost of building the missile and drone arsenal used in the attack and its consequences.

“If a full-scale war happens, displacement and poverty will affect the [Iranian] people who are already engrossed in the difficulties of providing the minimums of their living,” the statement which also referred to Israel as “fascist” said.

The Independent Iranian Workers Union (IIWU), an underground union formed by expelled and unemployed workers in 2006, too, described the Saturday drone and missile strike as “adventurism” in a short statement on its Telegram channel and warned that Iran will turn into “scorched earth” if the conflict continues and deepens in scope.

A third group of Iranians, many among whom are supporters of the return of the monarchy, have taken Israel’s side on social media and in messages they have sent to Iran International. Images they have posted on social media show graffiti on the walls in both Persian and English.

One such graffiti reads “Hit them, Israel. Iranians are behind you.” in English. Another one in Persian promises Israel popular protests to topple the regime if Israel retaliates for the Saturday attack.

The reformist opposition has largely avoided criticism of the missile strike, while expressing concern about further escalation.

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a prominent reformist politician and senior aide to former President Mohammad Khatami, accordingly, welcomed the strike in a tweet but called for an end to the conflict.

“War is a sinister phenomenon. The mission of the world and humanity is to prevent it. Israel attacked the Iranian consulate. The Islamic Republic responded powerfully in defense. For its part, Iran announced that it does not intend to continue [the conflict] and [engage in] war. Now it is the duty of the world to prevent the continuation of this tension. May God protect Iran and Iranians,” he wrote.

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

Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said that while global powers such as the US and UK quickly mobilized to intercept Iran's 350 plus projectiles launched Saturday night, no significant support came Iran's way, not even from Russia, who Iran has provided with support for its war on Ukraine.

“The developments showed that Iran is alone in the region. The world's powers came to Israel's aid to reduce the aerial pressure on Israel, but other powers did not come to Iran's aid even in wartime conditions. Russia was not willing to provide Iran with the necessary equipment in recent times.”

The comments echo Falahatpisheh's earlier criticisms of Russian policies. In January, he accused Moscow of seeking a 'partner in crime' for its actions in Ukraine, referring to Iran's provision of suicide drones to Russia.

Since October 2022, Iran has supplied drones to Russia, which have been used to target infrastructure and civilian areas in Ukraine. These drones, employed alongside missile strikes, aim to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.

Despite initial denials from Iran about supplying Shahed kamikaze drones to Russia, the Iranian government eventually acknowledged sending a limited batch before the Ukraine conflict escalated.

Since initiating its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has boosted its military cooperation with Iran.

Critics are increasingly expressing doubts about Russia's dependability as an ally to Iran, especially concerning nuclear issues and broader foreign policy concerns.

In November, the Kremlin stated that Russia and Iran are progressing in their relationship, emphasizing their collaboration in "military-technical cooperation."

"The ownership of the ship by Israel is evident," stated Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

"Given the violation of maritime laws by the concerned ship, it has been directed into the territorial waters of Iran," added Kanaani during his weekly briefing.

On Saturday, Iran's Revolutionary Guard seized a cargo ship that they said was "affiliated with" Israel near the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the event occurred 50 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

Tasnim news agency, which is close to the IRGC, said that the vessel, MSC Aries, is owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer.

IRNA labeled Ofer as “the Zionist capitalist.” In November, vessels part-owned by him were targeted by Yemen's Houthi forces, who are aligned with Iran.

In their statement, Zodiac Maritime confirmed the seizure, adding that the “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.”

The US State Department has condemned the seizure and called for the immediate release of the ship and its crew. In a statement of response, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz called on the European Union and the entire world to “immediately declare the IRGC as a terrorist organization and sanction Iran now.”

Hours after the seizure Iran attacked Israel with 350 drones and missiles launched on Saturday evening, following an airstrike on April 1 that targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus and killed several IRGC members, including two high-ranking commanders.

Prominent 'reformist' commentator Abbas Abdi, investigative journalist Hossein Dehbashi, and whistle-blower Yashar Soltani, who recently exposed a prominent cleric's corruption, have been accused of “compromising national security" following their comments regarding Iran's attack on Israel's soil.

The punitive measures extend beyond journalists to include citizens. On Sunday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened to take action against any online expression of support for Israel.

The Iranian government launched over 350 drones and missiles into Israel on Saturday night in retaliation for an airstrike on its consulate compound in Damascus on April 1, for which they blamed Israel. Several members of the IRGC, including two top commanders, were killed in the attack.

In spite of regime celebrations of the attack, Abdi remained outspoken, claiming, "Contrary to popular belief, I believe that Israel's attack was a reaction which does not require Iran's response and reaction."
Over 700 journalists have been arrested since the 2022 uprising with more crackdowns expected in the wake of the bombardment, Iran among the world's least safe places for journalists. At home and abroad, the regime has sought to silence voices of dissent, including attacks on Iran International journalists abroad.

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