Portugal summons Iranian ambassador to protest attacks on Israel

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Lisbon demands the “immediate release” of the ship 'MSC Aries', seized by Tehran in the Gulf of Oman

April 16 () –

The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Iranian ambassador in Lisbon, in protest against the attack perpetrated last weekend by Iran against Israel, towards which Tehran launched a barrage of missiles and drones that, however, mostly They were intercepted.

As detailed by Portuguese diplomacy in a statement, during the meeting the Portuguese authorities took the opportunity to express their “categorical” condemnation of the recent attack against Israel, as well as their concern about “the escalation of the conflict in the region”, also appealing to “maximum containment.”

On the other hand, the Portuguese Foreign Ministry has once again demanded the “immediate release” of the 'MSC Aries', a container freighter flying the Portuguese flag but linked to the company Zodiac Maritime, based in London and of which the billionaire Israeli Eyal Ofer has part of the property.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy seized the cargo ship just a few days ago, over the weekend, as it sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

“The release of the crew was also demanded, who must be treated with dignity while the ship remains imprisoned, considering that the explanations provided so far are not consistent,” adds the Portuguese Foreign Ministry's letter, which states that it is still waiting for this “formal diligence” and warns of possible “additional measures.”