Iran

[Ca.]

Iran Calls For 'Elimination' Of Dollar To Stop US 'Economic Terrorism'

Originally appeared at ZeroHedge Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that America’s economic influence would be eliminated...

southfront.org

11.06.2019

Mysterious Attacks On Oil Tankers Near Persian Gulf Continue (Photos)

On June 13, the US Navy’s Fifth fleet said it responded to a distress call by two tankers in the...

southfront.org

Snip: 13.06.2019
On June 13, the US Navy’s Fifth fleet said it responded to a distress call by two tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The two ships suffered a “reported attack.”

“US naval forces in the region received two separate distress calls at 6:12am local time and a second one at 7:00am,” the fleet said in a statement. “US Navy ships are in the area and are rendering assistance.”

Reuters cited four anonymous shipping and trade sources said that the two tankers, the Marshal Islands-flagged Front Altair and the Panama-flagged Kokuka Courageous, had been evacuated and the crews were safe.

A statement by the Kokuka Courageous’ management company, BSM Ship Management (Singapore), said 21 crew of the vessel abandoned ship after an incident on board which resulted in damage to the ship’s hull starboard side. The vessel is about 70 nautical miles from the United Arab Emirate (UAE) of Fujairah and about 14 nautical miles from the coast of Iran.

“The Kokuka Courageous remains in the area and is not in any danger of sinking. The cargo of methanol is intact,” the statement said.

Iran’s Press TV reported that Iranian ships had rescued all of the oil tankers’ 44 crew members.

“An informed source said an Iranian rescue vessel had picked up the 23 crew members of one of the tankers and 21 of the other from the sea and had brought them to safety at Iran’s Jask, in the southern Hormozgan Province,” Press TV reported.

Initial aerial footage from the scene of Front Altair in the Sea of #Oman. #Iran

https://twitter.com/x/status/1139140809884917760

https://twitter.com/x/status/1139170610947530752

https://twitter.com/x/status/1139144737619873802

 

[angelburst29]

The Pentagon's - U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet ... intentional sabotage?

Tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman stoke security and oil fears

Two oil tankers were attacked and left adrift on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman, driving up oil prices and stoking fears of a new confrontation between Iran and the United States.

Iran's Zarif calls oil tanker incidents "suspicious", wants regional talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said two oil tanker incidents on the Gulf of Oman on Thursday were "suspicious" and called for regional dialogue to avoid tensions.

Kremlin says no one knows what is behind attack on tankers
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that it was too early to draw any conclusions on attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman because of the lack of information.

Russia says don't use tanker attacks to pressure Iran: RIA
Russia on Thursday warned against rushing to attribute blame for a suspected attack on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, and said the incident should not be used to stoke tensions with Tehran, Russia's RIA news agency reported.

Factbox: Latest on tanker attacks south of Strait of Hormuz
Here is the latest from Reuters on attacks on two tankers on Thursday south of the Strait of Hormuz, through which almost a fifth of the world's oil is shipped:

* Panama-listed tanker Kokuka Courageous was damaged in "a suspected attack" that breached the hull above the water line,
Bernhard Schulte Ship management said

* The ship was attacked twice in three hours before all the crew were evacuated, the president of Japanese owner Kokuka Sangyo told reporters

* There had been an engine room fire on the tanker, which was carrying a cargo of methanol from Saudi Arabia to Singapore

* A second ship, the Marshal Islands-flagged Front Altair, was suspected of being hit by a torpedo" at around 0400 GMT, said Taiwanese refiner CPC Corp, which had chartered the vessel

* The Aframax-class tanker loaded with 75,000 tonnes of naphtha was on fire, said Norwegian owner Frontline

* Frontline said the Front Altair was afloat, denying a report by Iran’s IRNA news agency that it had sunk

* Frontline said the crew of 23 comprised 11 Russians, 11 Filipinos and one Georgian

* They were rescued by the Hyundai Dubai, transferred to an Iranian navy vessel and are destined for the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, Frontline said

* No marine pollution has been reported, Frontline said

* The tanker was traveling from Ruwais, United Arab Emirates, to Taiwan, according to trade sources and Refinitiv Eikon data

* All 44 sailors from the two ships have been rescued by Iranian search and rescue teams, Tehran’s Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported, citing an unnamed informed source

* U.S. President Donald Trump “has been briefed on the attack on ships in the Gulf of Oman. The U.S. Government is providing assistance and will continue to assess the situation,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said

* The U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain said it was assisting after receiving distress calls.

* Oil prices surged by 4% on the news

* Tanker owners DHT Holdings and Heidmar suspended new bookings to the Gulf, three ship brokers said

Front Altair's crew unharmed and now in Iran: shipping firm
The crew of Frontline's Front Altair comprised 11 Russian, one Georgian and 11 Philippine nationals who are unharmed following an explosion, Frontline said on Thursday.

Taiwan's CPC says naphtha tanker hit by suspected attack in Middle East
An oil tanker carrying fuel from the Middle East for Taiwan's state oil refiner CPC Corp was suspected to have been attacked earlier on Thursday, the company said.

Japan shipping company Kokuka Sangyo says its tanker was attacked in Gulf
The president of the Japanese shipping company Kokuka Sangyo Ltd said one of its tankers had been attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, its president told reporters at a news conference.

Tanker Kokuka Courageous damaged in Gulf incident: manager
The Kokuka Courageous tanker was damaged in a security incident in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, a spokesman for the vessel's manager BSM Ship Management (Singapore) said.

Frontline oil tanker still on fire, has not sunk: spokesman
Frontline's Front Altair oil tanker is still on fire in the Gulf of Oman and has not sunk, a spokesman for the company said on Thursday, citing information from a nearby vessel.

Frontline spokesman denies IRNA report that Front Altair has sunk
Frontline's oil tanker Front Altair is still afloat in the Gulf of Oman, a spokesman for the firm said, denying an earlier report by the Iranian news agency IRNA.

*** Tanker sinks after attack in Gulf, 44 crew picked up by Iran: IRNA (Fake report)
The Iranian news agency IRNA reported on Thursday that the Front Altair, an oil tanker damaged in an attack in the Gulf of Oman, had sunk.

*** Damaged tanker Front Altair sinks in Gulf of Oman: IRNA (Fake report)
The Iranian news agency IRNA reported on Thursday that the Front Altair, an oil tanker damaged in an attack in the Gulf of Oman, had sunk.

The peanut-gallery - the U.S. and it's allies exerting pressure on Iran:
U.S. calls attacks on commercial shipping 'unacceptable'

The United States on Thursday called attacks on commercial shipping "unacceptable" and told the U.N. Security Council that the latest assaults on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman that left one ablaze and both adrift "raise very serious concerns."

U.S. to raise Mideast tanker attacks in U.N. Security Council: diplomats
The United States plans to raise the attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman during a closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council later on Thursday, diplomats said.

U.S. assessing situation following Gulf of Oman attack: White House
The United States will continue assessing the situation in the Gulf of Oman following an attack on two oil tankers, the White House said in a statement on Thursday.

Attacks on civilian vessels are unacceptable: UK PM spokesman
Attacks on civilian vessels like the two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman are completely unacceptable and Britain is ready to assist in any investigation into the incident, a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said.

Britain "deeply concerned" about reports of explosions on vessels in Gulf of Oman
Britain said on Thursday it was deeply concerned by reports of explosions and fires on vessels in the Gulf of Oman.

Britain urgently seeking facts on reports of tankers hit in Gulf of Oman: PM's spokesman
Britain is aware of the reports of two tankers being hit in suspected attacks in the Gulf of Oman and is seeking urgently to establish the facts of what happened, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said on Thursday.

Germany: attacks on tankers in Gulf of Oman very worrying
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said reports of attacks on two oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman were very worrying and threatened to lead to an escalation of tensions in the region.

~~~
Iran Warns Regional States to Watch "Deception Trap" of Destabilizers

Iran on Thursday strongly voiced concern about the explosions occurred in the two Japan-related oil tankers in the Sea of Oman,
cautioning the regional states not to become entangled in the "deception trap" flattened by countries which benefit from instability in the region.

"The Iranian government is ready for security and regional cooperation to guarantee security, including in the strategic waterways," he added.

All crew members of the two oil tankers which were hit in the Sea of Oman were saved by Iranian rescue teams on Thursday.

Iranian rescue vessels have picked up the 23 crew members of one of the tankers and 21 of the other from the sea and brought them to safety at Iran’s Jask, in the Southern Hormozgan Province, an informed source said on Thursday.

Earlier, media reports said explosions had occurred on the two oil tankers, apparently as a result of attacks.

Details about the incidents are still sketchy, but the ships are known to have sent distress signals to nearby ports and vessels.

While the US Navy claimed it had been assisting the tankers, the Iranian rescue vessel was first to reach them and rescue the crew, who had plunged into and were floating on the sea to avoid the fire.

The MT Front Altair had been loaded at a port in the Gulf of Oman with a petroleum product known as naptha, and was on its way to the Far East. Its crew of 23 is safe after being evacuated by the nearby Hyundai Dubai vessel.

Front Altair was loaded from Qatar with the flage of Marshal Islands and Kokuka Courageous was loaded from Saudi Arabia with a Panama flag.

Meanwhile, BSM Ship Management says its crew of 21 aboard the Kokuka Courageous carrying methanol has also been rescued in the Gulf of Oman by a nearby Iranian vessel after what it described as an “incident on board which resulted in damage to the ship’s hull starboard side”.

The Arabic-language al-Mayadeen reported that Front Altair oil tankers was fully drowned in the Sea of Oman after the incident.

Japan's Trade Ministry said that the two oil tankers were reportedly attacked near the Strait of Hormuz which is located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman carried "Japan-related cargo".

Meantime, an informed source in the Iranian Armed Forces said that Iranian Army sent several vessels and helicopters along with rescue teams to the damaged oil tankers upon their request for help.

After the incident, Brent oil crude jumped as much as 4.5% and was trading at $61.80 a barrel at 11:51 a.m. in Dubai. Stocks in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were all down more than 1%.

Russia to US: Stop ‘Irresponsible’ Attempts to Kill Iran Deal
A senior Russian diplomat urged the US to stop using “methods of blatant blackmail and intimidation” aimed at forcing Iran out of a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal, saying Washington will be responsible if the accord collapses.

In a statement published on the Russian foreign ministry’s website on Wednesday, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna complained about America’s “irresponsible line” towards the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the official name of the deal, presstv reported.

He said the US has not only withdrawn from the JCPOA, but also attempts to undermine the accord by blocking the implementation of its economic part.

"By using the methods of blatant blackmail and intimidation, the US seeks to force other countries to curtail legitimate trade and economic ties with Iran, primarily in the oil and banking sectors,” he added.

Ulyanov also called on Washington to review its policy of attempting to force Tehran out of the agreement.

Iran Voices Concern about Suspicious Incidents in Sea of Oman amid Japanese PM's Visit

He noted that Iran considers the incidents and the coincidence with Japanese prime minister's trip to Tehran as against the regional and trans-regional efforts and stances to decrease tensions and establish tranquility in the region.

"Iran supports cooperation and talks in the region," Mousavi said.

In relevant remarks on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also on his twitter page voiced suspicion about the incident for the oil tankers in the Sea of Oman, and reminded of the necessity for Tehran-proposed Regional Dialogue Forum.

He referred to "the concurrency between reported attacks on Japan-related tankers" and the Japanese Prime Minister's extensive talks with Ayatollah Khamenei, and wrote, "Suspicious doesn't begin to describe what likely transpired this morning."

"Iran's proposed Regional Dialogue Forum is imperative," Zarif stressed.

Japan's Abe warns of armed conflict amid soaring U.S.-Iran tension

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned of unintended clashes in the crisis-hit Middle East after meeting the Iranian president in Tehran on Wednesday, amid a brewing confrontation between Iran and the United States.

Iran supreme leader says he has no intention to make or use nuclear weapons

Iran has no intention of making or using nuclear weapons, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying on Thursday by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

 

[Ca.]

Update:
Persian Gulf Tanker Attack: Iran Guilty? False Flag? Cui Bono?

Just as the prime minister of Japan was in an historic visit to Iran (the first since the 1979 revolution), a Japanese-owned tanker (and one other) was attacked in the Persian Gulf. US neocons are pointing the finger at Iran. Does it make sense to attack Japan in the midst of productive talks? Will the propaganda machine ramp up war talk?

 

[angelburst29]

'A one-time event': The US will sale its 'democratic ' weapons for 'enhancing the stability' in the Middle East ... Another good bargain?

Pompeo confirms $8.1bn arms sales to Arab nations without Congress approval to 'deter Iran'
24 May, 2019

In the article - it states this:

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has confirmed that the administration has invoked a rarely-used legal statute to “immediately” clear $8.1 billion in arms sales to its Arab allies in order to "deter Iranian aggression."

The transfer of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, which reportedly includes a number of Raytheon precision-guided munitions (PGMs) and Javelin anti-tank missiles, can not be delayed any longer "during a time of increasing regional volatility," according to the top US diplomat, comes from Iran, whose perceived “threat” the Trump administration has been drumming up in the recent weeks. The Pentagon has sent a carried group, bombers, air defense missiles and 1,500 troops to the region, having accused Tehran of an ongoing "campaign" against Washington's allies and interests.

Regarding "Washington's allies and interests" ...

* The ship Kokuka Courageous was attacked twice in three hours before all the crew were evacuated, the president of Japanese owner Kokuka Sangyo told reporters,

* A second ship, the Marshal Islands-flagged Front Altair, was suspected of being hit by a torpedo" at around 0400 GMT, said
Taiwanese refiner CPC Corp, which had chartered the vessel.

Both - Japan and Taiwan are American "allies". Japan hosts a large US military base and "the United States is an important trading partner for Taiwan, and is one of Taiwan’s main export markets."
The trading relationship between Taiwan and the United States: Current trends and the outlook for the future

Even though Trump has signed an Emergency Declaration for the Saudi $8 bin Arms Sale, that waivered a 30-day required Congressional review - Trump is getting all kind of backlash from Congress for approval - set to go for a vote next week. Congress claims there is "no emergency" and the Trump administration is claiming "Iran aggression and hostility." The attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, being blamed on Iran, can be utilized to justify the emergency for Congressional approval?

Jun 13 2019 - Trump Official Grilled over $8bln 'Emergency' Arms Sale to Saudis

A senior US State Department official seeking to justify President Donald Trump's use of "emergency" powers to bypass congressional approval of an eight-billion-dollar arms sale to Saudi Arabia faced criticism from members of Congress on Wednesday in advance of a likely vote of disapproval of the deal next week.

R Clarke Cooper, the State Department's assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to defend the arms sales cleared by Trump's emergency declaration last month, which waived a 30-day congressional review required by the US Arms Export Control Act of 1976, Al-Jazeera reported.

In declaring an emergency, the Trump administration cited growing tensions with Iran. Democrats on the House panel said Trump's action violated the law because there was no actual emergency.

"There is no emergency. It's phony. It's made up. And it's an abuse of the law," stated Representative Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

In the US Senate, where at least four Republicans will join Democrats to oppose the sale, a vote of disapproval of the arms deal is likely as soon as next week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters on Tuesday.

Cooper stressed that the arms sales, combined with an escalation of US military posture in the [Persian] Gulf region, were needed to counter increasing threats from Iran to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Americans in the region.

Jun 13 2019 - US Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Stop Saudi Arms Sales

House Democrats introduced new legislation Wednesday to stop US President Donald Trump's administration from following through on a number of arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

One resolution, introduced by congressman Ted Lieu, would block all 22 arms sales recently approved by the White House, Anadolu Agency reported.

"The emergency declaration is nothing more than an egregious abuse of power by an administration that doesn’t like being told 'no'," Lieu said in press release.

"The administration has presented us no evidence that the (Persian) Gulf countries face any substantially new threat from Iran that would justify declaring an emergency, or that these weapons, which the Saudis need to keep bombing Yemen, would even be useful if such a threat arose," said Malinowski.

U.S. blames Iran for tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman, Iran rejects assertion

The United States blamed Iran for attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday that drove up oil prices and raised concerns about a new U.S.-Iranian confrontation.

 

[angelburst29]

Iran foreign minister: U.S. allegations over tanker attacks part of 'sabotage diplomacy'

Iran's foreign minister said on Friday that the U.S. allegations against Iran over the Gulf of Oman tanker attacks were part of "sabotage diplomacy" adopted by a so-called B Team, which he has said includes US national security adviser John Bolton.

Iran's U.N. mission rejects 'unfounded' U.S. claim over Gulf of Oman tanker attacks

Iran categorically rejects the "unfounded" U.S. claim over Thursday's attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, Iran's mission to the United Nations said after Washington blamed Tehran for the attacks.

Saudi Arabia agrees Iran was behind tanker attacks: Saudi minister

Saudi Arabia agrees with the United States that Iran was behind the suspected attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said on Thursday.

U.S. consults allies on how to protect shipping in wake of tanker attacks: senior U.S. official

The United States is discussing with its allies a variety of options on how to protect international shipping in the Gulf of Oman in the wake of tanker attacks that Washington has blamed on Iran, senior Trump administration officials said on Thursday.

U.S. has 'no interest' in new conflict in Middle East: military

The United States has no interest in engaging in a new conflict in the Middle East but will defend American interests including freedom of navigation, the U.S. military said on Thursday as it directed a destroyer to the scene of an attack in the Gulf of Oman.

US dispatches USS Mason to Gulf of Oman after attack on tankers

© EPA-EFE/IRIB NEWS HANDOUT

Guided missile destroyer USS Mason will join the destroyer USS Bainbridge near one of the attacked tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

Saudi Arabia backs US charge Iran behind Gulf of Oman tanker attacks
Saudi Arabia backs US charge Iran behind Gulf of Oman tanker attacks
Saudi Arabia said it agrees with the US blaming Iran for attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman as the Americans produced a video on Thursday showing the removal of a mine from the side of one of the ships by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC).

US Central Command spokesman Bill Urban released a video of what the US military said was an IRGC Gashti Class patrol boat approaching the ship Kokuka Courageous "and was observed and recorded removing (an) unexploded limpet mine from the M/T Kokuka Courageous."

Published on Jun 13, 2019 (0:14 min.)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1139237001067192321

 

[angelburst29]

... on May 12, four oil tankers had caught fire on the left side of the Strait and no one had claimed responsibility for the incident.
"Today, two vessels are on fire on the right side of the Strait and there is no information about the cause of the fire.

Media: Oil tanker incident heats up tensions between US, Iran
Press review: Who’s behind the Gulf tanker attacks and Serbia could send troops to Kosovo

From now on, all oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz are going to have additional security, and maritime patrols in the region are going to be beefed up, Izvestia learned from a source in Norway’s Frontline company, whose Front Altair oil tanker was one of the two vessels that had come under attack in Iran’s territorial waters on Thursday. However, experts interviewed by the paper say it is too early to blame the incident on Tehran.

The maritime areas where civil navigation is at risk are protected by international groups involving naval ships from various countries, US Center for Naval Analyses expert Michael Kofman told the paper. According to him, several ships, including American and British ones, are deployed to the zone where the attack took place. Their task is to combat pirates and provide assistance to ships in distress. Oil tankers only carry staff members of private military companies hired by ship owners, the expert noted, adding that those mercenaries were capable of thwarting attacks by pirates aboard light boats, armed with portable grenade launchers and AK rifles, but they couldn’t detect saboteurs underwater.

According to Head of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies’ Center of the Near and Middle East Vladimir Fitin, forces seeking to push the US towards a direct armed conflict with Iran were behind the tanker attack. The expert believes that it could be the Arab monarchies or Israeli intelligence agencies. However, he did not rule out that pirates at sea like those active off Somalia’s coast and at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden were involved in the incident.

Last year, amid growing tensions with the US, Iran threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which almost 20% of total global oil consumption passes, Vedomosti notes. However, this time it would be unreasonable to suspect Iran, said Maria Belova of Vygon Consulting. She pointed out that on May 12, four oil tankers had caught fire on the left side of the Strait and no one had claimed responsibility for the incident. "Today, two vessels are on fire on the right side of the Strait and there is no information about the cause of the fire. It would make more sense for the Iranians to deploy artillery to the Strait area and nearby islands to prevent ships from passing," Belova said.

Professor Vladimir Sazhin, a Senior Researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Oriental Studies, believes that the incident should be blamed on some militant organizations rather than on Iranian or Arab state agencies. In his view, terrorists seek to further raise tensions in the Persian Gulf area.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Saudi Arabia backs US charge Iran behind Gulf of Oman tanker attacks
Saudi Arabia said it agrees with the US blaming Iran for attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman as the Americans produced a video on Thursday showing the removal of a mine from the side of one of the ships by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC).

US Central Command spokesman Bill Urban released a video of what the US military said was an IRGC Gashti Class patrol boat approaching the ship Kokuka Courageous "and was observed and recorded removing (an) unexploded limpet mine from the M/T Kokuka Courageous."

Published on Jun 13, 2019 (0:14 min.)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1139237001067192321

According to the Japanese state news agency NHK the tanker was hit by flying object, not mine.

BREAKING: Pompeo’s FALSE FLAG REFUTED By Japanese Media Authority – Tanker Hit By Flying Object, Not Mine – Confirms Onsite Worker
By Joaquin Flores - Jun 14, 2019

 

[angelburst29]

According to the Japanese state news agency NHK the tanker was hit by flying object, not mine.

'Flying objects' damaged Japanese tanker during attack in Gulf of Oman

Two "flying objects" damaged a Japanese tanker owned by Kokuka Sangyo Co in an attack on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman, but there was no damage to the cargo of methanol, the company president said on Friday.

The Kokuka Courageous is now sailing toward the port of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates, with the crew having returned to the ship after evacuating because of the incident, Kokuka President Yutaka Katada told a press conference. It was being escorted by the U.S. Navy, he said.

“The crew told us something came flying at the ship, and they found a hole,” Katada said. “Then some crew witnessed the second shot.”

Katada said there was no possibility that the ship, carrying 25,000 tons of methanol, was hit by a torpedo.

U.S. releases video it says shows Iran's military recovering mine

The U.S. military released a video late on Thursday that it said showed Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) removing an unexploded mine from the side of a Japanese-owned oil tanker, as Washington blamed Iran for attacks rattling global oil markets.

(... highly "likely - it was a mine" ... but that doesn't explain "the torpedo" version and what about "flying objects"? Oh, but wait ... what about the old stand-by, it was due to "Climate Change" and what hit the two oil tankers ... were "CARBON FOOT PRINTS"! Geez, they can't even keep track of their own "lies" any more!)

Slideshow (4 Images)
U.S. releases video it says shows Iran's military recovering mine

Germany: U.S video not enough to attribute blame over oil tanker attacks
A video provided by the United States is not sufficient to prove that Iran is behind the attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman,
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday.

Trump says ready to hold talks with Iran despite tanker attacks
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he was ready to launch talks with Iran whenever it was ready, even as he blamed Tehran for attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

Tanker attack to be discussed at G20 ministerial meeting: Japan industry minister

Japan's industry minister, Hiroshige Seko, said on Friday an attack on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman this week will be discussed at a meeting of G20 energy and environment ministers this weekend.

Xi says China will promote steady ties with Iran

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Iran's president on Friday that China will promote steady development of ties with Iran no matter how the situation changes, Chinese state media said.

 

[angelburst29]

Something is brewing here by the three master-minds, Bolton, Pompeo and Shanahan. I wonder, if they are after controlling "the Strait of Hormuz"? Iran - would never let that happen.

U.S. focus is to build global consensus after Mideast oil tanker attacks: Shanahan

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is focused on building international consensus following attacks on oil tankers in the Middle East that the United States has blamed here on Iran, acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Friday.

Shanahan told Pentagon reporters that he, White House national security adviser John Bolton and US Secretary Mike Pompeo shared that goal.

Shanahan, asked later 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 then returned to 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 (international) support for this international situation.”

U.S. and Gulf allies face tough task protecting oil shipping lanes


The United States and its allies may need to start escorting commercial vessels to prevent further attacks in the Gulf oil shipping lanes, Gulf sources and experts said.

The Strait of Hormuz is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just two miles (three km) wide in either direction.

Iran's Rouhani says Middle East situation calls for closer ties with Russia: RIA
The Middle East situation requires closer ties between Iran and Russia, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said at a China-led security bloc summit on Friday, according to the Russian state news agency RIA.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Something is brewing here by the three master-minds, Bolton, Pompeo and Shanahan. I wonder, if they are after controlling "the Strait of Hormuz"? Iran - would never let that happen.
U.S. focus is to build global consensus after Mideast oil tanker attacks: Shanahan
[...]
Shanahan, asked later 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 then returned to 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 (international) support for this international situation.”

Iran's Rouhani says Middle East situation calls for closer ties with Russia: RIA
The Middle East situation requires closer ties between Iran and Russia, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said at a China-led security bloc summit on Friday, according to the Russian state news agency RIA.

Good catch!

Putin, Rouhani: Cooperation between Russia and Iran continuous in various fields
By Gh.A. Hassoun - 14 June, 2019

Rouhani, in turn, said that the situation in the Middle East requires greater cooperation between Russia and Iran, adding that “under current conditions, serious external influences and imposed external sanctions, the need for interaction between countries of the region, especially between our two countries, becomes more urgent.”

 

[angelburst29]

I sense the incident of sabotaging four oil tankers in Oman, in the Strait of Hormuz, on May 12th and this June 13th incident of two oil tankers being attacked - are the inspiration and game plan of the Israeli Mossad.

Back on May 12th, C.a. Posted an article by the Times of Israel that gave subtle hints on possible events. Later that day, reports were published of four oil tankers being sabotaged.

Israeli TV claims Iran weighing attack on Saudi oil production facilities

Channel 13 says Tehran has ruled out striking at US bases; quotes Arab sources saying some in IRGC want to hit Israeli targets, others warn of 'suicidal' risk of conflict with US

www.timesofisrael.com

Israel has warned the US that Iran is contemplating targeting Saudi oil production facilities, an Israeli TV report said Friday night, as tensions between Tehran and the Trump Administration soar.

Channel 13 also quoted unnamed Arab intelligence sources saying there was a debate raging in the Iranian leadership about striking US and US-allied targets, with some in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps pushing for attacks, including against Israeli targets, while others cautioned that it would be “suicidal” to get into serious military conflict with the US.

The Channel 13 report came four days after the same TV channel first reported that the Israeli Mossad had tipped off the White House two weeks ago about an Iranian plan to attack either a US or US-allied target. That earlier report did not specify potential targets for such an ostensible attack.

The Israeli intel was conveyed by an Israeli delegation led by National Security Council head Meir Ben-Shabbat, which met with American intelligence officials at the White House late last month, the May 6 TV report said.

“It is still unclear to us what the Iranians are trying to do and how they are planning to do it, but it is clear to us that the Iranian temperature is on the rise as a result of the growing US pressure campaign against them, and they are considering retaliating against US interests in the Gulf,” an official was quoted as saying.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had on Thursday threatened a “swift and decisive” US response to any attack by Iran, in the latest of a series of escalating statements and actions.

The Pentagon said Friday that the US would move a Patriot missile battery into the Middle East region to counter threats from Iran.

So, by the sounds of it, the Pentagon and the White House Intelligence Committee got their marching orders directly from Meir Ben Shabbat which probably also demanded 120,000 more troops be sent, along with the Patriot missile battery? Trump didn't take "the bait" on this one and quickly followed up with a rebuttal.

Trump denies U.S. plan to send 120,000 troops to counter Iran threat

During this same time span, Pompeo cancelled his trip to Russia on Monday May 13th, and instead flew to Brussels for a personal (unannounced) meeting with NATO's Stoltenberg. Pompeo then flew to Russia, the following day (May 14) where a second meeting was scheduled with Sergey Lavrov - before both met with President Putin in Sochi. On May 16, a report surfaced stating Trump told Shanahan - "no war with Iran!" Then on June 2, Stoltenberg states NATO won't defend Israel in case of Iran attack?

Jens Stoltenberg ✔ @jensstoltenberg
Great meeting with @SecPompeo during his visit to Brussels. Good discussions on a range of security issues including #Iran.
https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1127963328305930241
11:46 AM - May 13, 2019

Lavrov to discuss Venezuela, Iran and Syria with Pompeo on May 14

Trump told U.S. defense chief: no war with Iran: N.Y. Times May 16, 2019


Press TV ✔ @PressTV
NATO says won’t defend Israel in case of Iran attack http://ptv.io/2aYg
https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1002941467264987136
11:54 AM - Jun 2, 2018

Then ... On June 13, the US Navy’s Fifth fleet said it responded to a distress call by two tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The two ships suffered a “reported attack.”

Why was there "a request" to send 120,000 troops? Maybe - to take possession of "the Strait of Hormuz" and from there - attack Iran directly?

 

[angelburst29]

Sabotaging Iran's diplomacy with Asian leaders
US gov narrative blaming Iran for oil tanker attacks falls apart in hours

The US military published video of what it claims is an Iranian boat crew removing an unexploded mine from the hull of the Japanese tanker Kokuka Courageous.

But the company’s president insisted in remarks that it was not an Iranian mine but rather two “flying objects” that damaged the ship.
“The crew told us something came flying at the ship, and they found a hole,” Katada reiterated. “Then some crew witnessed the second shot.”

The "tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, a major strategic waterway through which about one-fifth of global oil consumption passes on its way from Middle Eastern producers including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE and Kuwait as well as Iran.

The company president added, “This strait is very crucial. Without this route we can not transport gasoline and heavy oil to Japan.”

Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, shot back at the Trump administration’s allegations on Twitter. Zarif accused the White house of seeking to "sabotage diplomacy" and "cover up (American) economic terrorism against Iran," without offering "a shred of factual or circumstantial evidence" to back up its claims.

As The Grayzone reported, the US government accused Iran of the alleged attacks just as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the first Japanese leader to visit Tehran in four decades.

The Trump administration also issued its unsubstantiated allegations a day before an even more important meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a pan-Asian political and economic alliance that brought together the leaders of the world’s largest countries.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1139512842636484608

On June 14, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani joined President Xi Jinping of China, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan, among other heads of state, at a regional summit in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

The US government's accusations may have at least partially derailed Iran's diplomatic efforts, as Modi cancelled a bilateral meeting with Rouhani at the last minute, vaguely citing “scheduling issues.”

TOI India ✔ @TOIIndiaNews
PM Modi's meeting with Iranian President Rouhani cancelled due to scheduling issues http://toi.in/m1i6vb
https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1139551339409596417
11:13 AM - Jun 14, 2019

PM Modi's meeting with Iranian President Rouhani cancelled due to scheduling issues | India News -...
India News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday could not hold a bilateral meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the SCO summit her
timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Until the Trump administration illegally violated the international Iran nuclear deal (known officially as the JCPOA) in May 2018, India had been the second-largest purchaser of Iranian oil. But US threats of secondary sanctions forced New Delhi to cut Iranian oil imports.

Rouhani and Modi have recently discussed efforts to create a new mechanism through which India can pay in rupees for Iranian oil, thereby bypassing American sanctions.

Despite US attempts at sabotage, Iranian-Chinese talks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit went smoothly. Reuters reported, citing Beijing’s state media, that “Chinese President Xi Jinping told Iran’s president on Friday that China will promote steady development of ties with Iran no matter how the situation changes.”

At the summit, Rouhani also met with Putin, and called for closer ties between Iran and Russia.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1139551131493982209

https://twitter.com/x/status/1138850943301169153

Foreign Minister Zarif tweeted that Rouhani was in Kyrgyzstan for the summit, noting he had “Important multilateral dialogue” and “fruitful bilateral talks” with Xi and Putin.

“Unilateral US actions—incl. its #EconomicTerrorism on Iran—are solely responsible for insecurity & renewed tension in our region,” Zarif added.

In his speech at the Bishkek summit, Rouhani condemned the United States for international aggression.

“The US government over the last two years, violating all the international structures and rules and using its economic, financial and military resources, has taken an aggressive approach and presents a serious risk to stability in the region and the world,” the Iranian president said.

[B][U]Iran Embassy in Indonesia[/U][/B] Retweeted
[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/773036427928010756/H28S3SV7_bigger.jpg[/IMG][U] [B]Hamid Baeidinejad[/B]‏ @[B]baeidinejad[/B][/U] Jun 14

World public opinions are very suspicious over US allegation that Iran is behind oil tankers attacks. People are reminding similar false fabrications during WW1, Vietnam war and Iraq war to instigate military interventions and armed conflicts in different parts of world.pic.twitter.com/k8CO4xtaxq

 

[angelburst29]

These idiots are just digging themselves - deeper into the hole! Now, they are trying to embellish the lie by showing grainy photos.

US releases photos to bolster claim Iran attacked tanks June 17, 2019
US releases photos to bolster claim Iran attacked tankers

This image released by the U.S. Department of Defense on Monday, June 17, 2019, and taken from a U.S. Navy helicopter, shows what the Navy says are members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy removing an unexploded limpet mine from the M/T Kokuka Courageous. (U.S. Department of Defense via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — In an effort to boaster its public case against Iran, the Pentagon on Monday released new photos that officials said show that members of Tehran's Revolutionary Guard were responsible for attacks last week on two oil tankers near the Persian Gulf.

The images, many taken from a Navy helicopter, show what the Pentagon said were Iranian forces removing an unexploded mine from the side of the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.

Officials last week said the move appeared to be an attempt to remove forensic evidence from the scene of the attack. But it's not clear if examination of the mine would have made it definitively clear that the device was planted by the IRGC.

Other photos show a large hole on the side of the Courageous, above the water line, that officials say appears to have been caused by another similar mine.

The release of the photos came as the US works this week to convince members of Congress and allies that the accusations against Tehran are true.

Iran has denied involvement in the tanker attacks and has accused America of promoting an "Iranophobic" campaign. Tehran, however, has repeatedly threatened to close the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil flows.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he made a number of calls Sunday and Monday to international leaders, trying to convince them that keeping the Strait of Hormuz safe and open is a problem they all must deal with.


USA TODAY - Pentagon sending 1,000 US troops to Middle East after oil tanker attack
Pentagon sending 1,000 U.S. troops to Middle East after oil tanker attack
Pentagon sending 1,000 U.S. troops to Middle East after oil tanker attack

The Department of Defense announced Monday evening that 1,000 U.S. troops are being sent to the Middle East in response to last week's attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, attacks the United States says Iran conducted.

"The recent Iranian attacks validate the reliable, credible intelligence we have received on hostile behavior by Iranian forces and their proxy groups that threaten United States personnel and interests across the region," Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said in a statement.

The troops were authorized "for defensive purposes to address air, naval, and ground-based threats in the Middle East," Shanahan also said.

Shanahan in his statement said that the request for more troops came from U.S. Central Command, adding that he also consulted with the White House and got advice from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joseph Dunford.

U.S. military releases new images from oil tanker attacks

The U.S. military on Monday released new images it says showed Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) removing an unexploded limpet mine from a Japanese-owned tanker that was attacked on June 13 in the Gulf of Oman, as Washington blames Tehran for the attack.

France's Macron urges more dialogue with Iran, regrets announcements on enrichment

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he regretted Iran's announcement that it would exceed the allowed enriched uranium limit, but that Paris would hold talks with Iran and its partners to avoid any further escalation in the region.

“I regret the Iranian announcements made today, but as the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has underlined, Iran is respecting its commitments and we strongly encourage it to be patient and responsible,” Macron told a news conference alongside his Ukrainian counterpart.

Iran says it dismantled a U.S. cyber espionage network
Iran said on Monday it had exposed a large cyber espionage network it alleged was run by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and that several US spies had been arrested in different countries as the result of the action.

The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, said on Monday: “One of the most complicated CIA cyber espionage networks that had an important role in the CIA’s operations in different countries was exposed by the Iranian intelligence agencies a while ago and was dismantled.”

“We shared the information about the exposed network with our allies that led to the identification and arrest of CIA intelligence agents,” Shamkhani was quoted as saying by the state broadcaster IRIB.

He did not specify how many CIA agents were arrested and in what countries.

Shamkhani said without elaborating that some information about the case had been released by the United States, so Iran could now publish the information for the sake of public awareness.

Also of note:
Russia thwarts U.S. cyber attacks on its infrastructure: news agencies
Russia has uncovered and thwarted attempts by the United States to carry out cyber attacks on the control systems of Russian infrastructure, Russian news agencies cited an unnamed security source as saying on Monday.

The disclosure was made on Russia’s RIA and TASS news agencies days after the New York Times cited unnamed government sources as saying that the United States had inserted potentially disruptive computer code into Russia’s power grid as part of a more aggressive deployment of its cyber tools.

The newspaper suggested President Donald Trump had not been informed of the intrusions. Trump, without providing evidence, said on Twitter that the article was not true.

The Kremlin had said earlier on Monday that the U.S. newspaper report was worrying and showed that a cyber war was, in theory, possible.

“We see and note such attempts,” the Russian security source was quoted as saying in response to the report. “However, we manage to neutralize these actions.”

 

[angelburst29]

I sense the incident of sabotaging four oil tankers in Oman, in the Strait of Hormuz, on May 12th and this June 13th incident of two oil tankers being attacked - are the inspiration and game plan of the Israeli Mossad.

Why was there "a request" to send 120,000 troops? Maybe - to take possession of "the Strait of Hormuz" and from there - attack Iran directly?

"Almost all of these exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman before reaching the Indian Ocean."

"Achieving "consensus on Iran" and establishing security understanding between the Gulf States and the US will entrench the US, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the security of the waterway and they could eventually "own and control the route ... and will benefit the State of Israel by presenting a buffer in the region."

June 17, 2019 - Gulf 'attacks' on oil tankers are a cover for a bigger agenda
Gulf ‘attacks’ on oil tankers are a cover for a bigger agenda

The attacks on two Japanese oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman last week have raised both concerns and exasperation in the region. Saudi Arabia, Britain and the US — of course — accuse Iran of carrying out the attacks; it has rejected the accusations. The US made the accusations without “a shred of factual or circumstantial evidence,” insisted Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Twitter on Friday.

The US Navy said that it spotted Iranian vessels near the targeted tankers and released a video claiming to show Iranian sailors removing an unexploded limpet mine from the hull of one of the vessels. However, Japan’s preliminary investigations suggest that “a flying object” hit the ships: “The crew saw it with their own eyes. The impact happened above the water line. The crew took evasive action but were hit again three hours later."

The US allegation is also questioned by many observers in the region, not least because US intelligence has been found wanting on several fronts over the years, including the misleading claims about Iraq’s “weapons of mass destruction” which led to the disastrous 2003 invasion and occupation. Moreover, given the recent diplomatic contacts between senior Japanese and Iranian officials, these accusations are hardly convincing. The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe, was in Iran when the attacks occurred. It was a significant visit for both countries, given that, “The last Japanese prime minister to visit Iran was Takeo Fukuda in 1978.”

Furthermore, it is believed widely that Abe carried a direct message from US President Trump to the Iranians following his own visit to Japan on 25 May “for high-stakes talks about trade and other key issues.” According to informed sources, included on the agenda "was the US readiness to engage with Iran." Iran is going through difficult economic and political times at the moment, so it is unimaginable that Tehran would jeopardize economic and political opportunities by attacking the tankers.

What’s more, Iranians boats were amongst the first to rescue the desperate crews after the attacks took place. A video has emerged on YouTube in which grateful crew members thank Iran for its assistance.

I believe that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Bin Salman, and his mentor Mohammed Bin Zayed, his counterpart in the UAE have made specific financial commitments to Trump involving the purchase of billions of dollars’ worth of arms from the US. There are challenges in meeting those commitments. The price of oil, the economic slowdown and the increase in political and social spending within and beyond their respective countries top those challenges. Their sponsorship of the war in Yemen has further complicated the situation, as has the failure to push through with privatisation of Aramco, the biggest oil company in the world, which Riyadh was hoping would raise trillions of dollars. The duo also backs the destructive war led by warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya.

Given these commitments and challenges, they had to look for other ways to fund and meet their commitments to Trump. Thus, they have created an “imminent and present danger” which requires immediate regional action: Iran.

According to Wikipedia, “In 2002, the Persian Gulf nations of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE produced and exported about 25 per cent of the world’s oil, held nearly two-thirds of the world’s crude oil reserves, and about 35 per cent of the world’s natural gas reserves.” Those figures have increased exponentially since.

Almost all of these exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman before reaching the Indian Ocean. The Gulf countries will, therefore, be required to contribute towards securing the Arabian/Persian Gulf from the “Iranian threat” henceforth.

Achieving "consensus on Iran" and establishing security understanding between the Gulf States and the US will entrench the US, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the security of the waterway and they could eventually "own and control the route." If this scenario does materialize, it may have a negative impact on Iran and, indeed, Qatar, which is currently blockaded from all sides by its neighbors.

“In 2009, Qatar exported over 2.4 trillion cubic feet (68 billion cubic metres) of natural gas, 70 per cent of which was LNG,” most of which is transported through the Persian Gulf. Furthermore, the entrenchment of the US, Saudi and UAE will benefit the State of Israel by presenting a buffer in the region and transferring the “Iranian threat” completely to its Arab neighbours. They will keep Iran in check and possibly act against it whenever commanded to do so. After all, being the “custodians of Sunni Islam, they could do as they please against Shia Iran,” whereas an Israeli attack against the Iranians could trigger a regional war.

Trump, Japan's Abe discuss Gulf of Oman tanker attacks
Trump, Japan’s Abe discuss Gulf of Oman tanker attacks

President Donald Trump, gestures as he speaks during a news conference with Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, not pictured, at Akasaka Palace on 27 May 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. [Kiyoshi Ota - Pool/Getty Images]

US President Donald Trump discussed with Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe Friday recent attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, Anadolu Agency reports.

The telephone call follows the conclusion of Abe’s recent visit to Iran in which he sought to diffuse simmering tensions between Washington and Tehran that hit a boiling point Thursday when the ships were attacked.

The leaders discussed the visit as well as the "circumstances surrounding the attacks," the White House said in a statement.

"President Trump thanked Prime Minister Abe for his effort to facilitate communication with Iran," the White House said.

Trump said Thursday it is “too soon” for the U.S. to engage in nuclear talks with Iran just minutes before Washington blamed Tehran for the attacks on the oil tankers near the Gulf of Oman, which is a critical waterway for the global energy trade.

Shortly after meeting with Abe, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in remarks carried by Iranian state news agency FARS that he did not see Trump as deserving of a message from him.

“I do not consider Trump, as a person, deserving to exchange messages with. We will not negotiate with the United States,” he said, according to FARS.

Lavrov: Non-aggression pact between Iran and Arab states would be "useful"
Lavrov: Non-aggression pact between Iran and Arab states would be ‘useful’

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that a non-aggression pact between Iran and its Arab neighbors would be “useful,” Anadolu reported on Tuesday. Lavrov was apparently responding to a proposal by his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, put forward during his visit to Iraq last month.

"Zarif's proposal on concluding a non-aggression pact between the countries of the region," said Lavrov, "... would be a first step toward an easing of tensions, and we view such an agreement as the right one,"

He added that the initiative was discussed with the Gulf Cooperation Council, whose members and the US accuse Iran of attacking commercial vessels and two oil refineries in Saudi Arabia last month. Iran has denied the accusations.

 

[thorbiorn]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1139975896813772801

and for Americans there was a link to signing a petition against going to war with Iran, so far about 45,000 signed up: Sign the petition: Stop War with Iran