Greek shipping finds itself at the mercy of Iranian strikes, with the Revolutionary Guards sweeping a Greek-owned oil tanker with anti-ship missiles on May 26, causing damage to the vessel and a subsequent major fuel leak. Back in March, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis expressed Athens' intense concern to his Iranian counterpart regarding the large number of Greek vessels immobilized in the region, emphasizing the need to guarantee the safety of both the ships and their crews.
However, Abbas Araghchi reportedly chose to completely ignore the diplomatic appeal made by the head of Greek diplomacy, underscoring the significantly diminished footprint of the Mitsotakis government on the international stage. Currently, Greek shipping appears to be paying a heavy price for the country's obsessive fixation on Israeli and Ukrainian interests, while the New Democracy (ND) government watches developments unfold helplessly, having forfeited any claim to regional neutrality in the wider area.
Specifically, on May 26, a Greek-interest tanker flying the Marshall Islands flag reportedly sustained a missile strike during the midday hours of Monday (May 25) off the coast of Oman, according to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy. No injuries were reported among the crew members during the incident, according to the same ministry announcement. Notably, the competent authorities claim they are "closely monitoring the evolution" of the case.
The fuel leak and crew updates
The Greek-interest oil tanker was sailing approximately 60 nautical miles east of Muscat when it reported an external explosion on the port side of the vessel, near the waterline, according to a warning issued by the UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations). According to the same information, the strike triggered a severe fuel leak, though without causing any injuries or placing the crew members in danger, all of whom remain in good health. 
The vessel had loaded crude oil from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and is currently continuing its voyage normally, bound for India. Concurrently, a climate of intense anxiety is escalating within the international maritime community over a further conflagration in the broader region of the Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. This latest incident adds to a long list of Iranian strikes recorded during this period, demonstrating the failure of the US Navy in the area.
Fiasco for Gerapetritis and the ND government – Iran completely ignored their pleas
It is emphasized that in March, George Gerapetritis raised the urgent need for immediate departure clearance to be granted to the Greek ships remaining trapped in the Persian Gulf, during a telephone communication held on March 27 with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Despite this, it appears the Iranians ignored him entirely, showing absolute indifference to the appeals regarding the protection of Greek shipping. During their conversation at the time, the two sides exchanged views on the latest regional developments as well as ongoing international diplomatic initiatives. The Iranian minister presented Tehran's positions, while the Greek side underscored that Greece must not be treated as a hostile country by regional powers. The Greek Foreign Minister simultaneously highlighted Athens' acute anxiety over the high number of Greek vessels stranded in the area, stressing the necessity of securing the safety of merchant ships and their crews.
The discussion also touched upon developments within the UN Security Council, where Greece participates as a non-permanent member, with the two sides examining the relevant processes. Mr. Gerapetritis further expressed his expectation for a de-escalation of tension and the restoration of peace and stability in the wider region. It is recalled that contacts between the two ministers are not recent, as prior communications had taken place, while Abbas Araghchi had also participated in an international meeting in New York within the framework of an initiative for the countries of ancient civilizations, chaired by the Greek minister.
Trump's attempted revival of Project Freedom in Hormuz ends in fiasco
Earlier, US President Donald Trump suffered a fresh diplomatic defeat during his administration's attempt to restart western tanker escorts in Hormuz, with the US orchestrating a targeted leak to the WSJ, only for CENTCOM to swiftly clarify that a restart of Project Freedom is out of the question. The United States Central Command, CENTCOM, denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming that naval escorts for commercial ships had allegedly resumed under the auspices of operation "Project Freedom." 
According to CENTCOM, this specific operation has not been restarted, thereby rejecting the information broadcast by the American newspaper. The clarification is considered significant, arriving during a period of heightened tension around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical maritime routes for global energy security. CENTCOM's denial demonstrates that, at least in this phase, there is no official resumption of organized American naval escorts under "Project Freedom," despite widespread concerns over the safety of international maritime navigation in the region.
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