Blinken Calls On Persian Gulf States To Unify Defense To Counter Iran's Threat

The strike took place near Mokha, Yemen, escalating tensions along a crucial maritime corridor that is pivotal for global shipping.

Iran-backed Houthi militants have escalated their attacks on shipping lanes in allegiance with Islamist group Hamas, with a particular focus on vessels linked to Israel or its principal allies, the US and Britain. The heightened risk has led several shipping companies to avoid the waters.

Security firm Ambrey indicated that the Malta-flagged container ship was targeted by three missiles while en route from Djibouti to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“The vessel was targeted due to its listed operator’s ongoing trade with Israel,” Ambrey said.

In a statement, CMA CGM, a shipping company based in Marseille, stated that their Malta-flagged vessel, CMA CGM Manta Ray, was not affected as it was docked in Djibouti during the attack.

US Central Command (USCENTCOM) reported the successful interception of five unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the Red Sea.

“These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels,” read the statement by CENTCOM.

The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though suspicion was directed at the group. It is common for the rebels to take several hours to acknowledge their operations.

The US Maritime Administration has recorded over 50 incidents involving Houthi disruptions since November, including vessel captures and sinkings. A recent downturn in such incidents coincided with a US-led airstrike campaign targeting Houthi strongholds in Yemen, which allegedly reduced the group’s capabilities.

The listing of Khomeini's name sparked criticism from India's Shia Muslim community, who hold him in high regard as a religious leader and Islamic scholar.

This perspective sharply contrasts with the sentiments of many Iranians, especially the younger generation, who view Khomeini as a dictator responsible for the regime’s egregious and numerous human rights abuses.

Videos often show young Iranians tearing Khomeini’s images out of textbooks, setting fire to his photos or trampling on them– and in some cases, replacing his images with that of former monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

The description in the Indian textbook, which caused outrage stated that: "During his reign, [Khomeini] did many evil deeds. He used to kill people who didn't believe in 'Allah'. People had to face brutality even if they listened to music. He was the culprit behind the Iranian revolution (1979) and also the Iran-Iraq war, making him responsible for the deaths of millions of people."

The controversy, fuelled by India’s Muslim community, gained further traction when the “Khomeini For All” X page tweeted about the book, stating that the "Indian publisher insults Imam Khomeini…We urge authorities to take swift and stern action. Failure to do so will provoke community outrage." The group running the page called for action from the Meerut and Delhi police against the publishers.

Following the 1979 revolution and with the help of a non-legitimate referendum, Khomeini and those close to him created the Islamic Republic in Iran.

Khomeini’s subsequent rule was marked by suppression of political dissent, the establishment of a theocratic government with no civil liberties, and the initiation of purges targeting political opponents and intellectuals.

The early years of the Islamic Republic saw the execution of former government officials and army leaders, with 1981 marked by a particularly brutal massacre following a Fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini. The period targeted a wide range of political opponents and is remembered as one of the darkest chapters in Iran’s modern history.

The mass killings of political prisoners in 1981, which extended into early 1982, were methodical and have been categorized as crimes against humanity by countries like Canada. These acts were part of a larger strategy to consolidate power by the newly established Islamic regime, which publicly listed the names of the executed and defended its actions in face of international criticism.

Following the onslaught of criticism over the book by India’s Muslim groups, Acuber Books International issued a statement, saying that they will “rectify [the] error swiftly and unequivocally.”

“It has come to our attention that labeling him among the ‘most evil men in history’ is not only inaccurate but also deeply offensive to many individuals and communities,” the letter received by Kashmir Observer states.

Mapna Group, a major Iranian conglomerate involved in constructing power plants and oil facilities, is under scrutiny for its connections with the Islamic Republic's political elite.

The British government raises even more serious suspicions. Mapna Europe GmbH appears to be on an European list of international companies suspected of being involved in the production or procurement of weapons of mass destruction, Bild said.

Bild's investigation suggests that the Islamic Republic may use Mapna Europe, along with its subsidiaries in Dubai, China, and Turkey, for conducting suspicious transactions, thereby evading international sanctions. The allegation is worrying as Mapna is listed under US sanctions.

According to Bild, Abbas Aliabadi, who served for fifteen years as the CEO of Mapna until his appointment as Iran's Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade in Ebrahim Raisi's government in 2023, continues to influence the operations of Mapna Europe discreetly.

“The mullahs from Iran are building a nuclear bomb and want to destroy Israel - but are doing millions in business in Germany,” writes Bild.

It also highlights that according to experts, there are hidden company networks, especially in Düsseldorf and Hamburg, with which Iran is trying to circumvent sanctions. The Mapna network stands out here because of its prominence: the name Afshin Rezaei is on the mailbox next to Economics Minister Aliabadi.

Aliabadi, a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a veteran of Iran’s defense educational institutions, stepped down from his role at Mapna shortly after taking office in the government.

“Mapna Europe operates in an office complex between the main train station and the old town with an unadorned entrance, and dark staircase. Not a place where you would expect a state-run company. Only one name on the mailbox might say who is at work here: Abbas Aliabadi – Iran's Minister of Economy, member of the Revolutionary Guard, confidant of the mullahs,” read the report by Bild.

The name Afshin Rezaei, who manages Mapna's Dubai branch and previously faced a six-month US prison sentence for violating anti-terrorism laws, is also listed on the company's mailbox.

The report also ties other high-profile Iranian figures to Mapna Europe, including Tahmasb Mazaheri, former Economy Minister and ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Iran. Mazaheri was reportedly managing several businesses in Düsseldorf as of 2018, and in 2013, he was found with an undeclared check worth 54 million euros at Düsseldorf Airport. The Islamic Republic claimed that the check Mazaheri carried was for the costs of residential construction in Venezuela.

Shamkhani is the nephew of Ali Shamkhani – the former Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council who has held various high-ranking positions within the Iranian government and military.

In recent years, the economic activities of the Shamkhani’s family, including Ali Shamkhani’s two sons, his half-brother, wife and son-in-law, have been widely criticized and have made headlines in Iran.

Mo’oud Shamkhani previously served as an admiral in Iran’s navy and a former Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) commander.

The Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC, reported that Shamkhani is accused of "receiving bribes and financial corruption" in the city of Abadan.

The Arvand Free Zone, which spans approximately 34,700 hectares, is a designated economic zone in southwestern Iran.

It includes industrial towns such as Abadan, Khorramshahr, Shalamcheh, and Minushahr and has been the focus of numerous corruption investigations in recent years.

High-profile arrests linked to the investigations include Esmail Zamani, former CEO of the Arvand Free Zone, who was arrested in December 2020, and Ahmad Rostami, former deputy for management development, who was arrested a few months later.

Mo’oud Shamkhani's arrest was made public on Sunday.

He was appointed as the Deputy for Technical and Infrastructure Affairs of the Arvand Free Zone in 2015, following his uncle Ali Shamkhani's appointment to the zone's board in January 2014.

Ali Shamkhani, now a member of the Expediency Discernment Council and a political advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, has been a frequent target of criticism by “conservatives” in Iran.

In addition to the arrest, the Shamkhani family has been embroiled in various scandals, often related to accusations of nepotism including reports about Ali Shamkhani’s sons -- Hassan and Hossein -- owning dozens of businesses, such as large shipping companies, and misuse of power for financial gain.

Multiple reports have highlighted the lavish lifestyles of his family members both in Iran and abroad, raising questions about the sources of their wealth.

Controversies reached their peak following allegations of extravagant properties and bank accounts held by Shamkhani’s family, including those of his toddler grandson.

The 6th Exhibition on Export Potential of the Islamic Republic of Iran, dubbed ‘IRANEXPO 2024,’ is being held in Tehran from 27 April to 1 May.

North Korea's official media reported last week that a delegation led by the cabinet minister for international trade was visiting Iran, marking a rare public acknowledgment of ties between the two countries with presumed secret military cooperation.

Despite long-standing suspicions of collaboration between North Korea and Iran on ballistic missile programs, Kanaani rejected such claims, denouncing certain media outlets for "biased speculations by publishing untrue and baseless news".

The minister for external economic relations, Yun Jong Ho, led the delegation's visit to Iran, according to North Korea's KCNA news agency. Yun, who has previously focused on Syria relations, has been actively involved in bolstering ties with Russia, leading a delegation to Moscow earlier this month.

In the face of denials, suspicions persist regarding ballistic missile collaborations between Iran, North Korea, and Russia, with reports indicating Iran's supply of ballistic missiles to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.