The tension thermometer rises in the middle east, with Iran issuing new threats on Saturday, even targeting Arab countries. Tehran, neither more nor less, he warns that he will block navigation as far as Suez and Gibraltar.

Following the news of the tanker being attacked by a drone west of India, allegedly of Israeli interests, Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei called on Arab countries to withdraw from the international force (“Prosperity Guard”) which has been formed to deal with Houthi threats.

“It is the duty of Islamic countries to block the shipment of oil, fuel and goods to Israel,” he noted.

It even attacked Arab countries participating in the international force, according to the Jerusalem Post. “Providing support to the (Houthi) “resistance” is a duty. And siding with Israel is a crime and treason.”

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi held talks with his Iranian counterpart Ibrahim Raisi in an attempt to eliminate the threat posed by pro-Iranian rebels in the Red Sea.

At the same time, a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard general threatened that Iran “will act to impose naval blockade also in the Mediterranean Sea”. According to his words, he also referred to the Strait of Gibraltar near Spain.

Regarding the Liberian-flagged tanker that was hit by a drone, an Indian Navy official clarified.

“The safety of the crew and the ship has been ascertained. The Navy has also dispatched a warship to reach the area and provide assistance as required,” an Indian navy official told Reuters on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the incident.

Indian news agency ANI identified the tanker as the MV Chem Pluto which carried crude oil from Saudi Arabia. Citing Indian defense sources, ANI said the tanker has a crew of around 20 Indians.

It is noted that Israel estimates that the drone that attacked a tanker off the coast of Israel west coast of India on Saturday at noon, launched directly from Iran, reports Channel 12, although that estimate has not been confirmed.