Iran denies hijacking UAE-linked tanker
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, Iran's Navy denied any involvement in the reported seizure of a Panama-flagged oil tanker carrying UAE-linked products near the port of Jask in the Gulf of Oman.
Earlier this week, Ambrey reported receiving an alert regarding a tanker allegedly hijacked around 51 nautical miles northwest of Bandar Jask. The firm assessed that the vessel may be part of Iran's so-called 'shadow fleet,' a term used for ships linked to Iranian oil exports operating under sanctions.
In a statement published by the state-run IRNA news agency, the Navy's public relations office stated that no such incident occurred in waters under the country's jurisdiction, emphasizing that maritime activity in the area continues in accordance with international protocols under Navy supervision.
The statement also rejected the use of the term 'hijacking' without substantiating evidence, describing it as a media distortion based on unverified reports and part of efforts to provoke regional tensions and sway global opinion.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
China rejects Trump's trade deal violation claims
Shafaq News/ China pushed back, on Monday, against accusations from US President Donald Trump that it violated last month's trade deal, calling the claims 'groundless.' In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce insisted that Beijing had honored all terms of the May agreement signed in Geneva, blaming the United States for destabilizing trade ties. 'The US government has unilaterally and repeatedly provoked new economic and trade frictions,' the ministry noted, pointing to recent US moves, such as AI chip export restrictions, bans on chip design software, and visa cancellations for Chinese students, as violations of the agreement's intent. Beijing warned it would respond with 'forceful measures,' without specifying what steps it might take. The Geneva accord included a 90-day suspension of triple-digit tariffs and a pledge by China to lift certain trade barriers on key metals used in the US technology and defense sectors. Trump, writing Friday on Truth Social, claimed that China had 'TOTALLY VIOLATED' the agreement. He also doubled down on the claim during a rally in Pennsylvania, announcing plans to raise tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% to protect domestic producers. The US President offered no evidence to support the allegation of non-compliance. A federal appeals court has temporarily upheld the tariff hike, following a lower court ruling that deemed the administration's strategy 'unlawful.' While China remains the world's top steel producer, its steel exports to the US have been limited since 2018. It currently ranks as the third-largest aluminum supplier to the US market.
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Anti-Corruption pledges close monitoring of campaign finances
Shafaq News/ Iraq's anti-corruption chief on Monday warned against the misuse of public funds in electoral campaigns, as the country gears up for parliamentary elections in November. During a meeting with officials from the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), Mohammed Ali al-Lami, head of the Federal Commission of Integrity, announced plans to deploy field teams in Baghdad and other provinces. These teams will work in coordination with IHEC to monitor the electoral process and ensure that state resources are not exploited for political purposes. Al-Lami also emphasized that individuals with criminal convictions who have benefited from the General Amnesty Law are ineligible to run in the upcoming elections. He called on electoral authorities to require party leaders and founders to submit financial disclosure statements, 'underscoring the commission's intent to closely monitor party funding sources and spending in accordance with Iraqi law.'
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Loan within days to avert pre-Eid salary crisis in Kurdistan
Shafaq News/ The Iraqi government is expected to send an emergency loan to the Kurdistan Region within the next two days to cover public sector salaries ahead of Eid al-Adha. Iraqi lawmaker Karwan Yaroes told Shafaq News that the payment aims to ensure employees receive their wages before the Eid Al-Adha holiday, on Friday, June 6. However, he noted that a ruling by the Federal Supreme Court prohibits treating funds sent to the Kurdistan Region as loans, citing Kurdistan's entitlement to a share of the national budget. Yaroes also called for the formation of a joint committee after the Eid holiday to revisit the Baghdad-Erbil financial agreement and implement any pending terms within 30 days. Earlier, sources informed Shafaq News that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed readiness to disburse May salaries for Kurdistan employees under two conditions: the funds must be issued as a temporary loan outside the formal budget framework, and a joint committee must be formed with the regional government to find a lasting resolution to the ongoing salary crisis. A letter from Finance Minister Taif Sami to the Kurdistan Regional Government, seen by Shafaq News, stated that further financing could not continue as the Region had already exceeded its 12.67% allocation under the federal budget law. The ministry also reported that the Kurdistan Region generated 19.9 trillion dinars in oil and non-oil revenues from 2023 to April 2025 but has only transferred 598.5 billion dinars to the federal treasury during that period. The funding freeze triggered a strong backlash from Kurdish political groups. Kurdish parliamentary blocs issued a joint statement urging PM al-Sudani to intervene, calling the halt in payments a 'clear constitutional violation ' and a form of 'political targeting.' In a separate meeting, Kurdish parties condemned the decision, saying it undermines the constitutional status of the region and emphasized dialogue as the only path to resolving disputes.
