Israel criticized Brazil today, Thursday, for allowing two Iranian warships to dock and urged President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government to request their departure. The ships docked in Rio de Janeiro last Sunday after Brazil had previously denied them permission to dock in January, during Lula's trip to Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden.
There has been a cold war-like conflict between Israel and Iran for decades, with both sides exchanging accusations of sabotage against maritime operations, despite Iran facing increasing global pressure over its nuclear program and regional activities.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Hayat described Brazil's permission for the ships to dock as a "serious and unfortunate development," accusing the Iranian navy of collaborating with sanctioned entities. He wrote on Twitter, "It's not too late to order the ships to leave the port."
An announcement in a Brazilian official newspaper on February 23 stated that the two warships were permitted to dock between February 26 and March 4. In a press conference on February 15, the U.S. ambassador to Brazil urged authorities not to allow the ships to dock.
