An Iranian-state owned container ship was detained while it was berth at the port of Misrata, Libya, according to reports.
The 144-SHAR E KORD, which is owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL), was reportedly detained on April 26, 2019, as it is one a list of ships that are sanctioned by the US and EU.
FleetMon, a company that tracks ships’ movement all over the world, said the Libyan Interior Ministry confirmed the detainment and that the vessel was carrying 144 containers at the time.
Initial checks reportedly show that it was not carrying any prohibited goods. Iran has been under US sanctions since August 2018 when Donald Trump withdrew from the deal that sought to halt the country’s alleged nuclear weapon’s development.
Iran recently leased control of one of its key ports to India as part of the International North South Trade Corridor (INSTC), a huge trade and infrastructure project that looks to connect the Indian Ocean to the Arctic, and which Iran plays a vital part. PTI recently explored the INSTC in the first part of a new series.