TEHRAN, Oct 28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Iran has demanded a $170 million fine from 
the owner of a cargo ship that it seized in Gulf waters last year and accused 
of having ties to Israel, a judicial official said Tuesday.

The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, intercepted 
the MSC Aries in April of 2024 and detained its 25 international crew 
members.

At the time, the official IRNA news agency said the Portuguese-flagged vessel 
was "managed by Zodiac, which belongs to the Zionist capitalist Eyal Ofer".

On Tuesday, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said charges had 
been filed and the case was before the courts, though no date had been set 
for a trial.

"A fine of $170 million has been demanded against its owner, of Israeli 
origin, accused of financing terrorism," Jahangir said.

At the time, the United States denounced the seizure of the ship as an act of 
piracy and called for its crew to be released.

Israel's foreign minister called on the European Union to designate the 
Revolutionary Guards a "terrorist organisation" in response.

At least some of the crew were later freed.

Jahangir said the ship, excluding its cargo, was valued at $170 million and 
claimed that Ofer -- an Israeli billionaire and shipping magnate -- was an 
"influential figure" within the Israeli government.

The ship's seizure came months into the war in Gaza, where Israel was 
fighting Iran-backed Palestinian militants Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 
attack on southern Israel sparked the conflict.