Denmark's Maritime Authority announced on Thursday that it has detained a container ship that arrived from St. Petersburg, which, according to local media, is under U.S. sanctions. The authority stated that the ship was detained because it was not properly registered, declaring that it was sailing under the flag of Comoros, which has since confirmed to the authority that the ship is not registered there. Further investigations by Danish media have identified the vessel as Nora, sailing under the Iranian flag, anchored north of Denmark in the Kattegat strait.

The ship departed from St. Petersburg on January 16, heading towards Egypt, according to maritime tracking website VesselFinder. Reportedly, the vessel previously named Cerus is under U.S. sanctions, as it is allegedly part of Iran's fleet, which U.S. authorities claim is controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Over the past year, the vessel has traversed Danish waters multiple times, raising suspicions among authorities regarding its activities.

This incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding shipping regulations and sanctions enforcement related to Iran, particularly in light of U.S. efforts to curb Iranian influence and prevent illicit activities in international waters. Denmark's action reflects a commitment to adhere to international sanctions and maintain maritime integrity, potentially complicating relations with Russia and Iran amidst a broader geopolitical context.