The ceasefire agreement comes in response to requests from several countries concerned about the environmental hazards posed by the fire on the oil tanker, which was reportedly carrying crude oil destined for Israel. The fire had broken out following an attack, which the Yemeni army claims was part of their broader strategy to disrupt the flow of fuel to Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Iran’s UN Mission released a statement refuting claims by a Pentagon spokesperson that Ansarullah had threatened to target rescue ships sent to the Red Sea. The statement clarified that Ansarullah's actions are in line with their policy of supporting Palestine and hindering fuel shipments to Israel.
Despite this, the movement has agreed to a temporary truce, considering the humanitarian and environmental risks associated with the fire and potential oil spill in the Red Sea.
The incident involves a Greek-flagged oil tanker, the "Sounion," which was reportedly carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil. The tanker has been described as a navigational and environmental hazard, as it remains adrift in the Red Sea. The fire on the vessel was first reported by the British Maritime Trade Operations on Friday night, and the European Union's Aspides naval mission later issued a warning about the potential risks.
The Yemeni army recently released images of the attack on the tanker, stating that the vessel was targeted for violating the embargo on ships heading to Israeli ports in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Iran’s Mission emphasized that the failure to provide timely assistance and prevent an oil spill in the Red Sea was due to the negligence of certain countries, rather than the threat of being targeted by Ansarullah forces. (ILKHA)