Navy chiefs in crisis talks over spy ship

ROYAL Navy chiefs were locked in talks with their US counterparts last night over the best way to eliminate an Iranian spy ship suspected of directing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

- Marco Giannangeli

The 17,000-tonne “cargo ship” MV Behshad is thought to have co-ordinated the missile strike on oil tanker Marlin Luanda on Friday.

This has sparked heated discussions between senior commanders in the US-led coalition on how to deal with the command vessel, which is being manned by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Sinking it has already been ruled out, sources say, largely over fears that it would escalate the conflict and play into Iran’s hands.

Other options include neutralising the vessel’s ability to communicate, thereby cutting her off from IRGC commanders overseeing Houthi operations on the ground in Yemen.

A senior source said: “Iran realises we are unlikely to sink the Behshad as this will escalate the conflict in the region. At the same time, it is sitting in plain sight directing  fire missions on international shipping and there is a determination that this cannot be allowed to continue.”