Mystery surrounds an Iranian ship whose contents have killed more than a few of the pirates who hijacked it on August 21st in the Gulf of Aden.
Although the cargo of the MV Iran Dayanant is listed as various minerals and industrial products, the US Government says the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) – a state-owned company run by the Iranian military – covertly ships weapons to Islamic groups warring in the region. Iranian military aid to Islamic insurgents in the Somalian War is well documented. A 2006 UN report states that weapons were transferred to Somalia through Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which also absorbed a contingent of 700 Islamist fighters from Somalia during Hezbollah’s war with Israel. The report also states that Iran provided support for Islamist training camps inside Somalia and had sent two emissaries to negotiate with the ICU for access to Somalia’s uranium mines.
The ship was sailing from Nanjing, China with a load of 42,500 tons of iron ore and “industrial products” headed for a German client in Rotterdam. Its arrival in the Gulf of Aden, Somali officials say, was suspiciously early. Officials believe the ship was carrying weapons to Eritrea for Islamist insurgents.
Within days of the ship being hijacked, the 50 pirates aboard began developing unusual health conditions, losing hair, and developing skin burns. A number of the pirates have also mysteriously died since boarding the ship since it was docked offshore of Eyl, in northeastern Somalia.
Negotiations between the pirates and the autonomous region of Puntland’s Minister of Minerals and Oil Hassan Allore Osman revealed little about what actually is inside the ship that’s killing the pirates, who are unable to inspect the cargo containers because they do not have “access codes”. Osman got the run-around from the ship’s captain and crew, who first said the ship was carrying “crude oil” and then “minerals”. “That ship is unusual,” Osman said. “It is not carrying a normal shipment.”
Sources close to Andrew Mwangura, Director of the East African Seafarers’ Assistance Program, “say it contains chemicals, dangerous chemicals.” IRISL has flatly denied the ship is carrying a “dangerous consignment” and has threatened to sue Mwangura.
Negotiations between ISRL and the pirates fell apart after sanctions were levied against the company on September 10. The Iranian press claims the US offered $7 million to the pirates to “receive entry permission and search the vessel,” something Pentagon officials, the Department of State, and Somali officials have refused to coment on.
The MV Iran Dayanant currently sits moored offshore in Somali waters and inaccessible for inspection.
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This story is way too ridiculous. If you were carrying a cargo of that nature wouldn’t you send a few armed people with the cargo to defend it against the pirates who have been operating in the area for years? Anyone knows that shooting at the pirates or throwing a few hand grenades would scare them away or blow them up to pieces!