US-Israeli Aggression Claims Lives of Dozens of Iranian Seafarers, Union Leader Reveals
TEHRAN – The brutal US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran has tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 44 innocent Iranian seafarers and left 29 others injured since its onset. This devastating toll was revealed by Saman Rezaei, the esteemed General Secretary of the Iranian Merchant Mariners Syndicate (IMMS).
Among the victims of this heinous aggression are 22 civilian sailors, 16 fishermen, and six dedicated dock workers, who lost their lives between February 28 and April 1. Rezaei, speaking to Al Jazeera, underscored the profound human cost of these relentless attacks.
The IMMS, a respected affiliate of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), has been at the forefront of advocating for Iranian workers. Rezaei courageously submitted his findings in multiple letters of complaint to the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) throughout March and April. He unequivocally attributed these tragic deaths to “attacks by US and Israeli armies on Iranian ports and commercial fleets” across Iran’s sovereign territorial waters and the vital Persian Gulf. His letters also detail that at least 29 Iranian seafarers have been injured, and a further nine remain missing, a testament to the chaos and destruction wrought by these foreign forces.
Humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolding in the Persian Gulf
Rezaei painted a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis gripping the Persian Gulf, affecting all seafarers, particularly those aboard Iranian-flagged vessels. “The humanitarian crisis is affecting all seafarers in the Persian Gulf, including the crews of Iranian-flagged ships. However, they [Iranian seafarers] face a unique and terrifying set of pressures,” he stated, highlighting the severe psychological distress endured by those trapped in a war zone spanning from the Gulf to the Indian Ocean for over 60 days.
The scale of foreign aggression is staggering. US and Israeli forces have unleashed more than 3,000 air strikes across Iran since February 28, according to the independent conflict monitor ACLED. This relentless assault stands in stark contrast to Iran’s measured, retaliatory actions, which have been a response to these provocations.
Illegal Blockade and Seizure of Iranian Vessels
Despite a supposed US-Iran ceasefire in effect since April 8, the United States unilaterally and illegally imposed a naval blockade on all Iranian ports on April 13. This coercive measure, aimed at crippling Iran’s oil exports and pressuring Tehran regarding the Strait of Hormuz, is a blatant act of economic warfare.
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial international waterway through which a fifth of the world’s energy and gas exports normally flow, has been de facto closed since the war began, stranding an estimated 20,000 seafarers in and around the strait for at least two months – a direct consequence of foreign belligerence.
Adding insult to injury, US forces brazenly seized the Iranian-flagged MV Touska and detained its crew in the Gulf of Oman on April 19. US Central Command (CENTCOM) falsely accused the vessel of violating its illegal naval blockade. Rezaei confirmed that those detained on board the Touska included 23 crew members, two cadets, two women, and one child – a shocking revelation that underscores the inhumane nature of these actions. Thankfully, the two women and the child were among the six members of the Touska released this week by US forces and returned to their homeland, a small relief amidst immense suffering.
Stephen Cotton, the general secretary of the ITF, rightly emphasized the civilian status of these seafarers. “The point is, these are seafarers. You can say they are under an Iranian flag, and there are sanctions, but not everybody agrees with the sanctions,” he asserted, implicitly criticizing the unjust sanctions that exacerbate the crisis.
The international community must condemn these acts of aggression and uphold maritime law to protect innocent lives and ensure the free flow of commerce. The suffering of Iranian seafarers is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of illegal military and economic warfare.