Israel’s Defense Ministry
Israel’s Defence Minister, Benny Gantz, has unveiled satellite images showing four Iranian military vessels in the Red Sea, stating that Iran’s increased naval presence poses a “direct threat to trade, energy, and the global economy”.
Iran’s warships also present a “direct threat to peace and stability in the maritime arena, which may affect the Mediterranean and beyond”, Gantz said, describing the presence of Iranian forces in recent months as the “most significant” Iranian military maritime activity “in a decade”.
The newly published images show an Iranian landing ship, two auxiliary ships and frigate in the southern region of the sea. Gantz underlined that the warships demonstrate an unusual level of Iranian activity in the Red Sea and called Iran “a prime example of a regional and global threat”.
Addressing the Economist Government Roundtable conference in Greece on Tuesday, Gantz asserted: “Iran is expanding its activities in the maritime arena. Over the last year, Iran has seized international tankers and attacked vessels. Today, we can confirm that Iran is methodically basing itself in the Red Sea, with warships patrolling the southern region”.
