Iran to Sell Seized Ships to Fund War Damages

Iran plans to sell ships seized from the United States and Israel to compensate victims of recent wars, according to Hassan Abdoliyanpour, head of the Judicial Power Lawyers Center. These vessels were detained in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf based on court orders. The proceeds from their sale will be used to provide reparations to families and individuals affected by the conflict.

While the full list of ships slated for auction has not been disclosed, notable examples include the Panamanian-flagged MSC Francesca and the Liberian-flagged Epaminondas. Both were intercepted in April by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and taken to the port of Bandar Abbas for inspection. The MSC Francesca sustained damage from shelling, while the Epaminondas reported damage to its bridge, though no crew members were harmed in either incident.

In parallel, Tehran's prosecutor, Ali Salehi, announced the confiscation of assets belonging to 394 individuals suspected of collaborating with Israel during recent conflicts and protests. This action involved the seizure of 2,191 bank accounts and 37 vehicles, carried out under espionage laws. The specific charges and the value of the confiscated property remain undisclosed. Previously, 143 asset confiscations were reported against individuals accused of supporting hostile states.

This development follows earlier reports of Iran using cluster munitions during an attack near the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, marking the second such use against U.S. forces within two weeks.