The Portuguese foreign ministry has called on Iran to release the MSC Aries cargo ship and cease its detention in Israeli waters. In an official statement, the ministry stated that they have filed a notice and will await the results of the investigation before taking any further action. Portugal has also requested the release of the ship’s crew, as they do not consider the alleged shortcomings to be valid. The ministry also encourages the de-escalation of tensions in the Mediterranean. In addition, reports suggest that the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards’ special forces have seized a ship in the Persian Gulf near Pars.

In other news, a recent development from Armenia…