Iranian Official Reveals Psychological Warfare Against Israel: Seizure of Ship Escalates Tensions
Watan-An Iranian official spoke about a psychological war Tehran waged against Israel in the past few hours, amid anticipation of a retaliatory attack from Tehran in response to an Israeli strike targeting the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
The discussion revolves around the statements of Brigadier General Yahya Rahim Safaoui, one of the top advisors to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressing satisfaction that Israel is feeling panicked. He referred to it as Iran’s anticipated revenge and blow against Israel, in response to the shelling of the consulate in Damascus.
The official news agency (IRNA) quoted General Safaoui as saying: “The Zionists have been living in a state of terror for a week now. They declared a state of alert and halted their anticipated attack on Rafah because they do not know what Iran wants to do, when, and how it will respond. Therefore, fear envelops the Zionist entity and its settlements.”
Safaoui, speaking at a memorial service on the seventh day of the killing of General Mohammad Reza Zahedi in the consulate bombing, added: “This psychological, political, and media war is more terrifying for the Zionists than the war itself.”
🔻اللواء صفوي:الكيان الصهيوني يخشى من صفعة ايران المرتقبة له
🔸ايران بالعربية: أكد اللواء يحيى رحيم صفوي مساعد وكبير مستشاري قائد الثورة الاسلامية، بان الكيان الصهيوني يخشى ويشعر بالهلع من انتقام وصفعة ايران المرتقبة له والتي تجعله يشعر بالندم على عدوانه على القنصلية الايرانية… pic.twitter.com/zGbmJfO8RK
— إيران بالعربية (@iraninarabic_ir) April 13, 2024
He pointed out that this war has forced some Israelis to flee and others to descend into shelters every night because they fear an Iranian attack.
Iranian seizure of a ship linked to Israel
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced on Saturday the seizure of a ship linked to Israel in the Gulf waters, specifically off the coast of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
It all began with the announcement by the British maritime security agencies, UKMTO and Ambrey, on Saturday, that a ship had been seized by regional authorities, 50 nautical miles off the coast of Fujairah.
Ambrey stated that they had seen still shots of at least three individuals descending from a helicopter onto what appeared to be a cargo ship.
It added that this method had been used previously by the naval forces affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 063 BOARDING UPDATE
001https://t.co/6mNrG6W5iO#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/BXD73sutrP— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) April 13, 2024
Semi-official Iranian narrative
Later, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the Revolutionary Guard’s navy had stopped an Israeli ship in the Gulf waters.
Meanwhile, IRNA reported that the Revolutionary Guard stopped the ship “MCS ARIES” through a military operation near the Strait of Hormuz.
It stated that the ship was flying the flag of Portugal and was operated by the ZODIAC company owned by the Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
استيلاء الحرس الثوري الإيراني على سفينة في مضيق هرمز بحجة ارتباطها بإسرائيل
معقول هذا هو الرد؟! pic.twitter.com/WQcQi7qFgR
— شاهو القرةداغي (@shahokurdy) April 13, 2024
The agency also noted that the ship is currently being transferred to Iranian waters.
In a related context, the Associated Press, citing a military source, reported that Iran is behind the seizure of a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
