The ship, operated by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping but owned by Idan Ofer, was attacked on Tuesday night, according to a defense official. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military agency that monitors shipping in the region, said it was “aware of one incident” which was “under investigation”. The ship was identified as the Pacific Zircon. According to shipping tracking website MarineTraffic, it was last seen off the coast of Liwa, Oman on Monday morning. Departed Sohar on Monday afternoon bound for Buenos Aires. Image: Idan Ofer, Director of Israel Corporation, in Geneva in 2013 Tensions rose with Iran The attack comes at a time of heightened tension with Iran and ahead of the World Cup in nearby Qatar. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Tehran and Israel have been locked in a years-long war amid wider tensions in the Middle East. He is also alleged to have supplied Russia with drones to use in its war against Ukraine. Read more from Sky News: What are Iran’s kamikaze drones? Missile that hit Poland ‘unlikely’ from Russia The US has blamed Iran for a series of attacks off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in 2019. Tehran then began escalating its nuclear program after the US unilaterally withdrew from its nuclear deal with world powers. Iran’s state media has not commented.
