The Iranian government released the 25 sailors who were aboard the MSC Aries container ship when it was seized by the Revolutionary Guards on April 13, 2024. However, the ship remains under Tehran's control. The crew's release, announced on May 3, 2024, comes nearly a month after their detention, with Iranian authorities citing "judicial detention" for the ship, alleging violations of maritime laws. Tehran claims the MSC Aries had disabled its satellite tracker, "compromising navigation safety."
The underlying reasons for the seizure may be political. The MSC Aries, operated by MSC but owned by Gortal Shipping—a subsidiary of Zodiac Maritime, which belongs to Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer—was navigating the Strait of Hormuz, between the coasts of Iran and the United Arab Emirates, when it was taken. This incident occurred twelve days after an Israeli air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the death of high-ranking Iranian military officials, suggesting the seizure could be seen as retaliation and a warning concerning future navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.