An Iranian shipping company said on Friday that one of its vessels was targeted this week in a "terrorist attack" using an explosive device in the Mediterranean Sea.
The alleged incident came less than two weeks after Tel Aviv had accused Tehran of being behind an attack on an Israeli-owned ship in the Gulf of Oman. Iran has denied this.
The cargo ship Iran Shahr e Kord – which is owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines group (IRISL) – was en route from Iran to Europe when its hull was hit by "an explosive device" on Wednesday, group spokesman Ali Ghiasian was quoted on state television as saying.
Mr Ghiasian called the incident a "terrorist action and an example of maritime piracy".
"A small fire started where the explosion had ocurred, but it was quickly extinguished ... and none of the crew were hurt," he said.
"Legal proceedings will be taken to identify the perpetrators through related international bodies," he added.
The company official did not disclose the ship's current location and cargo but said "it will continue its route after assessing and repairing the damage".
In a Thursday report quoting US and Middle East officials, The Wall Street Journal said that since late 2019, Israel has targeted at least a dozen vessels bound for Syria, mostly carrying Iranian oil.
Responding to a question on the Iranian claims, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said: "We do not comment on reports by foreign media.
"But we will continue to fight against the terrorism and everything that helps terrorism, including its sources of revenue."
IRISL was blacklisted by the US in mid-2020 over what the Department of State described as the transportation of items related to Iran's missile and nuclear programme.
Former US president Donald Trump withdrew Washington from a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and world powers in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on the country.
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
