Iran, ‘Houthis say yes to truce for oil tanker recovery in Red Sea’

(ANSA) – UNITED NATIONS, AUGUST 28 – The Houthis have agreed to a “temporary truce” to allow the recovery of the Greek oil tanker Sounion, hit last week by the Yemeni rebels, and thus avoid a possible environmental disaster in the Red Sea: the Iranian mission to the United Nations announced. The Sounion was hit on August 21 off the coast of the rebel-controlled port city of Hodeida. The Houthis, backed by Iran, said they attacked the ship with drones and missiles. The British maritime safety agency Ukmto, led by the Royal Navy, reported three fires on the ship, which is carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil. According to the Iranian mission to the UN, “several parties” have asked the Houthis for “a temporary truce to allow tugboats and rescue ships to enter the area” where the tanker is located. “Given humanitarian and environmental concerns, Ansar Allah (another name for the Houthi rebels, ed.) accepted this request,” it said in a statement. However, the mission added that “the failure to provide assistance and prevent an oil spill in the Black Sea is linked to the negligence of some countries rather than concerns about the risk of being targeted.” The Sounion crew, composed of 23 Filipinos and two Russians, were rescued by a ship from the European Union’s Aspides mission. (ANSA).