Greek authorities announced that a bomb threat on board a cruise ship heading to Israel led to a security operation in the port of the Greek island of Syros, on Tuesday, after an unknown person claimed that an explosive device was attached to the hull of the ship, according to what was reported by Reuters news agency.
The Crown Iris ship, flying the Panama flag, was scheduled to sail to Haifa with 940 passengers and 597 crew members on board when the threat came.
Coast Guard personnel searched the ship with the help of an explosives-detection dog and a private diver, while a special Coast Guard unit was deployed to the site.
Initial examination procedures did not lead to the discovery of any explosive device. Coast Guard experts are expected to arrive at (19:30 GMT) to conduct further inspections before the ship can resume its journey.
At least seven flights in Europe received bomb threats today, causing disruption in airport traffic, although no explosive devices were found.
The Revolutionary Guard said on Tuesday that “updating the target bank” and placing “the enemy’s material and intangible assets in the target” are at the top of its missions, and vowed an “immediate, effective, and without geographical restrictions” response to any threat.
He added, in an annual statement issued on the occasion of the anniversary of the storming of the US Embassy, that he had placed “all measures and orders” of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, issued in his meeting with senior leaders, on his agenda “to achieve the maximum degree of deterrence,” and that he “will not hesitate for a moment” to implement them.
The statement continued: “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (Iranian Guide Ali Khamenei) said: The timing and conditions for ending the enemy’s attacks are determined by the Armed Forces and the Iranian people.”
The Revolutionary Guard said that the fighters have a “steel will to create historic surprises and decisively decide the enemy’s fate.”
The statement claimed that the documents of the US embassy, which was stormed in 1979, showed that diplomacy, in Washington’s eyes, is “a cover for infiltration, deception, and domination.” He accused it of adding today the goal of “overthrowing the regime and dividing Iran.”
From “defense” to “attack”
Earlier, Chief of the General Staff Ali Abdullahi said on Tuesday that Iranian military doctrine has moved from “defense” to “offensive initiative.” He warned that the “material and intangible” assets of the United States and Israel were now within range of the armed forces.
Abdullahi called for “a complete lifting of sanctions, the payment of war reparations, recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and a guarantee that the attack will not be repeated.”
Vice President of the Basij Organization, Qasim Qureshi, said: “From today on, American mercenary soldiers will not be safe anywhere in the world.” He added that “there are no restrictions” on the selection of the target, its range, and its size, “except tactical and strategic considerations.”
For his part, spokesman for the National Security Committee in Parliament, Hassan Qashqawi, said that the geographical scope of any future war “may reach the level of World War III.”
He added that it will be much broader than the 12-day and 40-day wars, and will not remain confined to the countries and regions it has included so far.
Intercontinental missiles
Hard-line MP Kamran Ghazanfari defended calls for Iran to possess nuclear weapons, and said in a press interview: “It can be guessed that we have already possessed this capability.” He added: “If America and Israel threaten us with using nuclear weapons, let them know that we will use such weapons against them in the same way.”
Ghazanfari stated that Iran had “for a long time” manufactured “intercontinental” missiles that could reach America. He added that Tehran is capable of responding “in Europe and on American soil” if bases in the Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, or Kuwait are used against it. He did not provide evidence for these allegations.
A member of the Leadership Council of Experts, Mohsen Haidari, said that the response may extend to “enemy bases, Israel, and even American territory.” Calling on the armed forces to act “before the enemy takes the initiative” if his intention to attack is proven.
Meanwhile, Hamshahri newspaper, affiliated with the Tehran municipality, published a map of European countries and wrote that the armed forces’ target bank was being updated “without geographical restrictions.”
Kayhan newspaper, which is published under the supervision of the Supreme Leader’s representative, wrote that American and NATO facilities in Britain, Italy, Greece, Romania and Cyprus may be a target for Iranian missiles if the war is renewed.
She said that Iranian missiles are capable of targeting NATO bases at a distance of four to five thousand kilometers. She added: “If the aggressors do not choose to resolve diplomacy and accept Iran’s logical conditions, the geography of the battle will extend to the heart of Europe.”
The new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had ordered the armed forces to respond to any threat “without geographical restrictions.”
Meanwhile, an Iranian political source told RIA Novosti that the updated list “is not limited to military sites,” and includes “the material and intangible interests and assets” of the United States and Israel in the region.
On Monday and Tuesday night, the United States carried out strikes that it described as “defensive” on Qeshm Island. The Revolutionary Guard announced that it shot down an American MQ-9 drone east of the Strait of Hormuz.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqir Qalibaf said that Iran is ready for battle “with its finger on the trigger.”
Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, wrote that the American response to Iran’s demands “was not convincing.” The Qatari mediators expect to receive responses from Washington and Tehran within 36 hours, according to Reuters.
The threats coincide with an internal debate about nuclear doctrine. Rezaei said on Saturday evening that Tehran had not taken a “new decision,” but that discussion was “on the table” if a new war was imposed.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says that Iran possesses 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 percent.
The Iranian Student Opinion Poll Center (ISPA) denied that it had conducted any survey on the Iranians’ position on making nuclear weapons, after reports attributed to it results in this regard.
The leader of the Israeli opposition camp, Gadi Eisenkot, said on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump’s announcement of gradually ending aid to Israel shows the necessity of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s departure, according to what was reported by Reuters news agency.
Eisenkot said in a statement: “The fact that the Israeli security establishment became aware of a shift in our strategic relationship through the media, as did the Israeli public, shows the seriousness of Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions. "He can no longer be trusted and must be replaced."
Trump stated, earlier Tuesday, that he had reached an agreement with Netanyahu stipulating that Washington would halt funding amounting to $4 billion to Israel after the end of this year, while continuing to sell weapons to the United States’ close ally in the Middle East.
It is not yet clear what type of funding he means, nor has he explained how the funding will be stopped by the end of the year, as the memorandum of understanding that provides annual US military aid to Israel worth $3.8 billion does not expire before September 2028.
Trump said, in an interview with the Fox & Friends program on Fox News, that Israel no longer needs this funding, noting that some Democrats and left-wing politicians are using American financial support for Israel as an excuse to criticize Republicans.
He added: “With regard to paying money to Israel, Bibi Netanyahu and I agreed to provide $4 billion annually to Israel, and we agreed months ago to stop that.” He continued: “We have already agreed that we will not pay money to Israel by the end of this year. Now, we will help Israel if it needs to.”
