Iran says previously seized US, Israeli assets could be used for compensation
Iran’s judiciary said on Tuesday that US and Israeli assets seized in earlier cases could be used to compensate Iranians for losses, pointing as an example to a ship linked to Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer that Iran seized more than two years ago.
Judiciary spokesperson Ali Kazemi said the case involving the vessel was now before Iran’s Supreme Court.
“One of the steps that has been taken is the identification and seizure of another vessel linked to Eyal Ofer, an Israeli businessman,” Kazemi said, adding that its assets could be used to compensate people who suffered losses once the court case was concluded.
Kazemi did not name the vessel. His description appeared to refer to the MSC Aries, a Portuguese-flagged container ship seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards near the Strait of Hormuz in April 2024.
Iran was already pursuing legal action over the MSC Aries before the current war. In October 2025, then-judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said prosecutors were seeking a $170 million penalty from its owner in a case that Iran linked to Ofer.