The Government of the Kingdom of eSwatini has strongly rejected reports linking it to an “eSwatini-flagged” vessel seized by Iranian authorities over the weekend.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy announced on Sunday that it had intercepted a ship carrying about 350 000 litres of what it described as smuggled fuel. Local reports in Iran suggested the vessel was operating under eSwatini’s flag, a claim the Southern African kingdom says is simply not possible.

In a statement, eSwatini clarified that it does not run an operational ship registry and has never authorised any company, individual or foreign agent to register vessels in its name. The government added that any ship purporting to fly the eSwatini flag is doing so without its knowledge or consent.

Officials said the country has no ties to the vessel and pointed out that the report misrepresents eSwatini’s maritime capacity and legal framework.

–ChannelAfrica–