Damaged Iranian Tanker Enters Iranian Territorial Waters

damage is seen on Iranian-owned Sabiti oil tanker sailing in the Red Sea, October 13, 2019. National Iranian Oil Tanker Company via WANA (West Asia News Agency). (Reuters)
damage is seen on Iranian-owned Sabiti oil tanker sailing in the Red Sea, October 13, 2019. National Iranian Oil Tanker Company via WANA (West Asia News Agency). (Reuters)
TT

Damaged Iranian Tanker Enters Iranian Territorial Waters

damage is seen on Iranian-owned Sabiti oil tanker sailing in the Red Sea, October 13, 2019. National Iranian Oil Tanker Company via WANA (West Asia News Agency). (Reuters)
damage is seen on Iranian-owned Sabiti oil tanker sailing in the Red Sea, October 13, 2019. National Iranian Oil Tanker Company via WANA (West Asia News Agency). (Reuters)

An Iranian tanker damaged in the Red Sea two weeks ago has entered Iranian territorial waters, the official IRNA news agency reported on Monday, citing information from the National Iranian Tanker Company.

The tanker will dock at Kharg Island in two days, the report said.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said last week that the tanker, the Sabiti, had been hit by at least two rockets, and there is video footage of the incident.

The attack was undoubtedly carried out by a government and there would be consequences, Rouhani said last week.

Iranian authorities reported that the Iranian-owned oil tanker was struck in the Red Sea off the Saudi coast. There has been no independent report on the cause of the damage.

Saudi Arabia has said it was not behind any attack on the tanker. Saudi authorities said they received a distress message from the vessel, but that it had switched off its transponder before they could assist.



Jerusalem Resident Detained for Suspected Iranian Spy Plot

Israeli security forces patrol the scene of a shooting attack near a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank north of Bethlehem, on December 12, 2024. (AFP)
Israeli security forces patrol the scene of a shooting attack near a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank north of Bethlehem, on December 12, 2024. (AFP)
TT

Jerusalem Resident Detained for Suspected Iranian Spy Plot

Israeli security forces patrol the scene of a shooting attack near a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank north of Bethlehem, on December 12, 2024. (AFP)
Israeli security forces patrol the scene of a shooting attack near a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank north of Bethlehem, on December 12, 2024. (AFP)

An Israeli resident of Jerusalem has been arrested on suspicion of being in contact with Iranian intelligence agents as part of a plot to carry out an attack in Israel in return for payment, Israeli security forces said on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old man was activated by an Iranian agent known as "John" in October and arrested in November on suspicion of committing security offences, said a joint statement from spokeswomen for the Shin Bet security service and Israel police.

It said their investigation showed he had proposed cutting off the power to the Jerusalem light rail system and sent a video to his Iranian operator in an attempt to locate the power supply.

It said he searched social networks to purchase a gun, a silencer and materials to produce explosives for the purpose of carrying out an attack in Israel.

The suspect had been detained and an indictment was expected in coming days, the statement read.

Reuters reported last week on the arrest of almost 30 mostly Jewish citizens who allegedly spied for Iran in nine covert cells in what four Israeli security sources said was Tehran's biggest effort in decades to infiltrate its arch foe.

The arrests followed repeated Iranian intelligence efforts over the last two years to recruit ordinary Israelis to gather intelligence and carry out attacks in exchange for money, the four officials said.