Trump says 'Iran did do it,' as U.S. seeks support on Gulf oil tanker attacks

[rooster59]

Trump says 'Iran did do it,' as U.S. seeks support on Gulf oil tanker attacks

By Parisa Hafezi and Makini Brice

 

An oil tanker is seen after it was attacked at the Gulf of Oman, in waters between Gulf Arab states and Iran, June 13, 2019. ISNA/Handout via REUTERS

 

DUBAI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Friday blamed Iran for attacks on two oil tankers at the entrance to the Gulf and said it was seeking international consensus about the threat to shipping, despite Tehran denying involvement in the explosions at sea.

 

Thursday's attacks raised fears of a confrontation in the vital oil shipping route at a time of increased tension between Iran and the United States over U.S. sanctions and military moves in the Middle East, Tehran's proxy groups in the region and its nuclear programme.

 

"Iran did do it and you know they did it because you saw the boat," U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News.

 

He was referring to a video released on Thursday by the U.S. military which said it showed Iran's Revolutionary Guards were behind the blasts that struck the Norwegian-owned Front Altair and the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous in the Gulf of Oman, at the mouth of the Gulf.

 

Iran said the video proved nothing and that it was being made into a scapegoat. "These accusations are alarming," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

 

Iran has dismissed earlier U.S. charges that it was behind the attacks and has accused the United States and its regional allies such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates of "warmongering" by making accusations against it.

 

Last month, the United States sharply tightened economic sanctions that are damaging the economy of Iran, which in response has threatened to step up its nuclear activity. Tehran has said it could block the Strait of Hormuz, the main route out for Middle Eastern oil, if its own exports were halted.

 

Trump, who last year pulled the United States out of an agreement between world powers and Tehran to curb Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for some sanctions relief, said any move to close the Strait of Hormuz would not last long but added that he was open to negotiations with Iran.

 

Iran has repeatedly said it will not re-enter talks with the United States unless it reverses Trump's decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal.

 

Tehran and Washington have both said they have no interest in starting a war. But this has done little to assuage concerns that the two arch foes could stumble into a conflict.

 

Trump's administration is focussed on building international consensus https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-attacks-usa-pentagon/u-s-focus-is-to-build-global-consensus-after-mideast-oil-tanker-attacks-shanahan-idUSKCN1TF2G0 following the attacks, U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said.

 

Asked whether he was considering sending more troops or military capabilities to the Middle East, Shanahan said: "As you know we're always planning various contingencies."

 

But he emphasized the issue of building consensus.

 

"When you look at the situation, a Norwegian ship, a Japanese ship, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, 15 percent of the world's oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz," he said.

 

"So we obviously need to make contingency plans should the situation deteriorate. We also need to broaden our support for this international situation," he told reporters.

 

OIL, INSURANCE

 

Oil prices rose about 1% on Friday, reflecting the jitters. Insurance costs for ships sailing through the Middle East have jumped by at least 10% after the attacks, ship insurers said.

 

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an independent investigation https://www.reuters.com/article/mideast-attacks-un/update-2-u-n-chief-calls-for-independent-probe-into-gulf-tanker-attacks-idUSL2N23L0WG of the attacks.

 

The tanker attacks took place while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan - a big buyer of Iranian oil until it was forced by the new U.S. sanctions to stop - was visiting Tehran on a peacemaking mission, bringing a message from Trump.

 

Iran dismissed Trump's message, details of which were not made public.

 

"I do not see Trump as worthy of any message exchange, and I do not have any reply for him, now or in future," Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said.

 

Washington has also blamed Iran or its proxies for attacks on May 12 that crippled four oil tankers in the same area, and has said Tehran was behind May 14 drone strikes on two Saudi oil-pumping stations. Tehran has denied all those charges.

 

The U.S. military said black-and-white footage it filmed from a U.S. aircraft showed Iran's Guards on a patrol boat drawing up to the Kokuka Courageous and removing an unexploded limpet mine from its hull.

 

The Japanese-owned tanker, abandoned by its crew, was being towed to a port in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, after a Dutch firm said it had been appointed to salvage the ships.

 

The second tanker, the Front Altair, which was set ablaze by a blast, was still languishing at sea, although the fire that had charred the hull had been put out.

 

Iranian military fast-boats in the Gulf of Oman were preventing two privately owned tug boats from towing away the Front Altair, a U.S. official said on Friday.

 

China, the European Union and others have called for restraint from all sides. In a notable signal that close U.S. allies are wary of Washington's position, Germany said the U.S. video was not enough to apportion blame for Thursday's attack.

 

But British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt differed, saying no other state https://www.reuters.com/article/mideast-attacks-britain/britain-blames-iran-for-attacks-on-tankers-in-gulf-of-oman-idUSL8N23L5EQ or non-state actor could have been responsible.

 

Last month Washington scrapped waivers that had allowed some countries to continue importing Iranian oil, effectively ordering all countries to blacklist Iran or face sanctions themselves.

 

Iran's crude exports fell to about 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) in May, starving Iran's economy of its main source of revenue.

 

Iran says it is still abiding by the terms of the nuclear deal, but cannot do so indefinitely unless it receives some of the economic benefits that were promised.

 

There have been conflicting accounts of the cause of Thursday's blasts. An initial report that Kokuka Courageous was struck by a torpedo was dismissed by a source familiar with the issue. The owner of the tanker, which carried methanol, later said it was hit by two "flying objects".

 

Iranian TV showed 23 crew in Iran believed to be from Front Altair on Friday, and said its experts would assess whether they could return to the ship. The crew from Kokuka Courageous were picked up and handed to a U.S. Navy ship on Thursday.

 

(Reporting by Parisa Hafez, Maher Chmaytelli and Ghaida Ghantous in Dubai, Makini Brice, Susan Heavey, Phil Stewart and Lesley Wroughton in Washington; Bart Meijer in Amsterdam; Victoria Klesty in Oslo and Jonathan Saul in London; Writing by Peter Graff and Alistair Bell; Editing by James Dalgleish and Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-06-15

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[Tug]

Sounds like it’s escort time don’t think anyone would mess with them if they are being defended and no war Donald I’ve heard Britain says they think Iran did it I will take their word not yours

[Sujo]

I wonder how he decides what intel he agrees and disagrees with.

 

russia no

saudi no

little kim no

iran yes

[canuckamuck]

40 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Tehran and Washington have both said they have no interest in starting a war. But this has done little to assuage concerns that the two arch foes could stumble into a conflict.

Sure, Iran has no interest in a war, unless they are totally nuts. For the other guys, war is the family business.

[Topdoc]

Why the need for an entire boatload of people to watch their colleague remove an extremely dangerous, unexploded mine from a bobbing boat?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id-bQqmqlsg

[Longcut]

Since the U.S. is awash in oil. I think the rest of the world should deal with this. It will be a very cold winter in Europe and Asia if they don't get a handle on it. Since the U.S. doesn't have many registered oil tankers. Let the countries these ships belong to deal with it.

[Cryingdick]

I guess video tape of Iran trying to hide the mines plastered to the side of the boat isn't enough for some people. They are also making more interference with tug boats today. For all the criticism Trump isn't quick to go to war. Iran is literally begging for an airstrike.

 

Never mind it now seems that Iran has taken the Norwegian crew hostage. This is how Iran has always been.

[neeray]

1 hour ago, Sujo said:

I wonder how he decides what intel he agrees and disagrees with.

 

russia no

saudi no

little kim no

iran yes

Best observation so far in this young thread.

By now, except for those wearing seriously Trump-tinted glasses, most of us know how to predict Trump.

I just hope for once that he exercises some restraint.

[Chomper Higgot]

14 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

I guess video tape of Iran trying to hide the mines plastered to the side of the boat isn't enough for some people. They are also making more interference with tug boats today. For all the criticism Trump isn't quick to go to war. Iran is literally begging for an airstrike.

 

Never mind it now seems that Iran has taken the Norwegian crew hostage. This is how Iran has always been.

Video you say.

 

 Is this a video of an attack on an American ship? Is it even a video of an attack?

 

Why is this a matter for the US to get militarily involved in?

 

And if the US wishes to get involved, why should other nations forget the lessons of Iraq?

 

[Tug]

Can’t find crew hostage on us news kinda strange normally they would be going bananas about something like that I did see video of a small boat alongside one of the vessels possibly picking something up

[animalmagic]

2 minutes ago, neeray said:

Best observation so far in this young thread.

By now, except for those wearing seriously Trump-tinted glasses, most of us know how to predict Trump.

I just hope for once that he exercises some restraint.

I'm hoping to win the lottery...……………...better odds!

[Cryingdick]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Video you say.

 

 Hello s this a video of an attack on an American ship? Is it even a video of an attack?

 

Why is this a matter for the US to get militarily involved in?

 

And if the US wishes to get involved, why should other nations forget the lessons of Iraq?

 

 

Iran attacking ships could be construed as an act of war. We haven''t done anything other than be the adults in the room and have begun to escort ships. If Iran wishes to escalate this any further they can look forward to a port and a refinery in ashes. 

[Cryingdick]

2 minutes ago, Tug said:

Can’t find crew hostage on us news kinda strange normally they would be going bananas about something like that I did see video of a small boat alongside one of the vessels possibly picking something up

 

Swap out hostage for detained. Picking something up that was attached to the side of the ship? 

[animalmagic]

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Video you say.

 

 Is this a video of an attack on an American ship? Is it even a video of an attack?

 

Why is this a matter for the US to get militarily involved in?

 

And if the US wishes to get involved, why should other nations forget the lessons of Iraq?

 

Military and police surveillance videos all have date and time stamps on them in the picture to make it difficult for them to be altered or misused.

[neeray]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Video you say.

 

 Is this a video of an attack on an American ship? Is it even a video of an attack?

 

Why is this a matter for the US to get militarily involved in?

 

And if the US wishes to get involved, why should other nations forget the lessons of Iraq?

 

I'm glad you stated "video" Chomper and not "video tape". Times (and technology ) have changed.

[legend49]

3 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

Iran attacking ships could be construed as an act of war. We haven''t done anything other than be the adults in the room and have begun to escort ships. If Iran wishes to escalate this any further they can look forward to a port and a refinery in ashes. 

Adults and Trump in the same context you are joking. Of course they did he said so, as if he was there watching them. Give me a break.

[Cryingdick]

1 minute ago, animalmagic said:

Military and police surveillance videos all have date and time stamps on them in the picture to prevent them being altered or misused.

 

Iran has also tried to disrupt the tug ( no pun intended Tug) boats presumably to try to hide evidence. Iran has made a massive miscalculation here.

[Cryingdick]

3 minutes ago, legend49 said:

Adults and Trump in the same context you are joking. Of course they did he said so, as if he was there watching them. Give me a break.

You can cover your eyes but they were caught red handed trying to extract a unexploded mine from a foreign vessel. The fact that it is Iran is not even in dispute anymore.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/14/us-accuses-iran-of-detaining-crew-after-oil-tanker-attack

[ezzra]

If Iran didn't do it, then they had to make doubly sure  that no one else would act in a way that will throw a suspicion on themselves by patrolling the waters by sea and air to prevent a third party who will do something to blame the Iranians, but Iran didn't, and IMO, Iran had something to do with the sabotage...

[animalmagic]

4 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

Iran has also tried to disrupt the tug ( no pun intended Tug) boats presumably to try to hide evidence. Iran has made a massive miscalculation here.

Iran did it = port and refinery in ashes (to quote you), economic disaster and possible Armageddon for them.

Somebody else did it = economic benefits for US and Saudi, and relief for Israel.

 

[Cryingdick]

5 minutes ago, animalmagic said:

Iran did it = port and refinery in ashes (to quote you), economic disaster and possible Armageddon for them.

Somebody else did it = economic benefits for US and Saudi, and relief for Israel.

 

 

The thing is Trump is actually being very restrained and not blown them back to the Stone Age. That's exactly what Iran wants so it can blame it's failures on the USA and external infidels. It's time to simply tighten the noose. Oil prices are very low and Iran needs to realize the hostage days are over. They should return the Norwegian sailors immediately if they are in fact detaining them.

 

If Iran isn't responsible then they should be willing to give full cooperation and aid any investigation into the matter.

 

 

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, canuckamuck said:

Sure, Iran has no interest in a war, unless they are totally nuts. For the other guys, war is the family business.

Trump will want to avoid war until shortly before the 2020 elections, nothing like a good war to improve your ratings.

[Tug]

Donald is heading up a war weary divided nation it would not be in his interest to start a war and possibly collapse the world economy but it is Donald so who knows?

[Sujo]

21 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

Iran attacking ships could be construed as an act of war. We haven''t done anything other than be the adults in the room and have begun to escort ships. If Iran wishes to escalate this any further they can look forward to a port and a refinery in ashes. 

They werent attacking anything. They noticed a bomb on the side and bravely went in and took it off. They saved the boat and crew.

 

just trying to use some trump logic on intel. ????

 

 

[user68677878]

25 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

Iran attacking ships could be construed as an act of war. We haven''t done anything other than be the adults in the room and have begun to escort ships. If Iran wishes to escalate this any further they can look forward to a port and a refinery in ashes. 

Adults in the room- you must be excluding most of Trumps cabinet- surely

[user68677878]

2 minutes ago, CGW said:

I agree good old "Bomber Bolton" is itching for war - again, Mr Trump - not so sure about that, why do you think so?

Change the headlines and to garner support to prop up his diminishing base

[Chomper Higgot]

20 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

You can cover your eyes but they were caught red handed trying to extract a unexploded mine from a foreign vessel. The fact that it is Iran is not even in dispute anymore.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/14/us-accuses-iran-of-detaining-crew-after-oil-tanker-attack

Alleged Iranian vessel, allegedly recovers alleged limpet mine.

 

Alleges, US while allegedly rattling the sword.

 

[Cryingdick]

4 minutes ago, porphyry said:

Change the headlines and to garner support to prop up his diminishing base

So who did it? If the Norwegian crew is in fact hold hostage in Iran will you accept the reality?

[Chomper Higgot]

20 minutes ago, ezzra said:

If Iran didn't do it, then they had to make doubly sure  that no one else would act in a way that will throw a suspicion on themselves by patrolling the waters by sea and air to prevent a third party who will do something to blame the Iranians, but Iran didn't, and IMO, Iran had something to do with the sabotage...

The sin of omission becomes a pretext for war.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

So who did it? If the Norwegian crew is in fact hold hostage in Iran will you accept the reality?

Let Norway deal with that.