The MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has confirmed that its container ship MSC Sariska V was struck by two projectiles in the port of Um-Qasr, Iraq on Monday, June 1.

The giant Geneva-based shipowner said the container ship was first hit while the pilot was onboard, as the vessel departed from the port, while the second struck impacted the crew area soon afterwards.

A statement from the company confirmed that all crew members were safe and unharmed and that they acted “with exceptional professionalism” throughout the incident to secure the vessel and its cargo.

The Gianluigi Aponte-company led by his son and daughter, Diego and Alexa Aponte, added that local media reports indicated the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had claimed responsibility for the attack in response to US actions involving the vessel Lion Star.

MSC stated that it is a neutral commercial carrier and has no affiliation with either the United States or Israel. “This retaliatory action is completely unjustified based on the allegations made by the IRGC,” it said.

The company added that it is headquartered and domiciled in Switzerland and is wholly owned by the children of the founder – the Italian national captain Gianluigi Aponte – Diego and Alexa Aponte, both Italian nationals with no other citizenship.

MSC expressed its deep concern by these unprovoked attacks, as it said, and the risk they create for its innocent seafarers, and the essential maritime trade in the region.

Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a cargo vessel, while it was transiting in the Arabian Gulf, had been struck from an unknown projectile on its starboard side about 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr in Iraq. The impact was followed by a large explosion, the maritime security body said.

In an update, UKMTO said there were reports of a second impact to the cargo vessel, resulting in a fire which had been extinguished.

However, UKMTO did not identify the vessel involved and said investigations were underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

It also said all crew members were safe and no injuries were reported. UKMTO added that it had received no reports of environmental impact linked to the incident.

UKMTO advised vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.

Trump says talks with Iran continue

On his Truth Social platform, U.S. president Donald Trump has refuted earlier reports that Iran and USA suspended ceasefire talks. Trump said talks never ceased and are still, even now, progressing.

On Tuesday afternoon, Trump wrote that “The conversations between us have been going on continuously, including four days ago, three days ago, two days ago, one day ago, and today.”

Where they lead, one never knows, he said. “But as I told Iran, it’s time, one way or another, for you to make a deal. You’ve been doing this for 47 years, and it cannot be allowed to go on any longer,” he added.

MSC confirms ship struck by two projectiles in Iraqi port