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  • Iranian Tanker Wars 2019

    Iran
    Published 9 hours ago
    Last Update 2 hours ago
    Iran's Revolutionary Guard seizes one UK-operated tanker in Strait of Hormuz, briefly detains another
    Greg Norman
    By Greg Norman | Fox News

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    Trump calls Iran 'nothing but trouble' after tankers seized

    Trump warns Iran to change its behavior; chief White House correspondent John Roberts reports.

    Iran seized a British-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz Friday and briefly detained a second, marking a fresh escalation of tensions between Tehran and the West.

    The U.K.-flagged Stena Impero, which has 23 crew members of Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino nationalities aboard, “was approached by unidentified small crafts and a helicopter during transit of the Strait of Hormuz while the vessel was in international waters,” Stena Bulk, the shipping company that owns the vessel, said in a statement. "We are presently unable to contact the vessel which is now heading north towards Iran."

    Iran's Revolutionary Guard forces, in a statement on their website, say the ship was seized for "non-compliance with international maritime laws and regulations" and is being brought to an unnamed Iranian port, according to the Associated Press. Websites tracking the ship's path showed it turn sharply in the direction of Iran's Qeshm Island, instead of its intended destination of Saudi Arabia.

    “We are urgently seeking further information and assessing the situation following reports of an incident in the Gulf," a U.K. government spokesperson told Fox News.

    Stena Bulk says "there have been no reported injuries and their safety is of primary concern to both owners and managers."
    Iran intercepts another UK oil tanker in the Strait of HormuzVideo

    Approximately an hour later, a Liberian-flagged tanker Mesdar was also seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and was seen on maritime tracking services making a turn toward Iran. However, the tanker's owner later said the ship was briefly boarded by armed guards before being allowed to go. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency tweeted that the Mesdar had left Iran's territorial waters.

    "These seizures are unacceptable," British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said as he prepared to enter an emergency government meeting Friday night. "It is essential that freedom of navigation is maintained and that all ships can move safely and freely in the region."

    "We're not looking at military options, we're looking at a diplomatic way to resolve the situation, but we are very clear that it must be resolved," Hunt later told Sky News, warning that if the situation is not resolved quickly "there will be serious consequences."

    President Trump said Friday that Iran is "nothing but trouble" and that "we heard one, we heard two," tankers were seized.

    "Iran is showing their colors," the president told reporters before departing the White House to spend the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J. "Iran is in big trouble right now. Their economy is crashing, it's coming to a crash ... It's very easy to straighten out or it's very easy for us to make it worse."

    "This is the second time in just over a week the UK has been the target of escalatory violence by the Iranian regime," National Security Council Spokesman Garrett Marquis said. "The U.S. will continue to work with our allies and partners to defend our security and interests against Iran's malign behavior."

    The Pentagon had no official statement on the situation, but Fox News has learned that there are no current plans for U.S. naval vessels to escort commercial ships through the strait.

    Late Friday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the U.S. had intensified air patrols over the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM spokesman Lt. Col. Earl Brown said that U.S. Naval Forces Central Command had been "in contact with U.S. ships operating in the area to ensure their safety."
    Iran's Revolutionary Guard claims to have seized British oil tankerVideo

    Late Friday, CENTCOM announced Operation Sentinel, what it described as "a multinational maritime effort ... to increase surveillance of and security in key waterways in the Middle East to ensure freedom of navigation in light of recent events in the Arabian Gulf region.

    "The goal of Operation Sentinel is to promote maritime stability, ensure safe passage, and de-escalate tensions in international waters throughout the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait (BAM) and the Gulf of Oman," the CENTCOM statement went on. "This maritime security framework will enable nations to provide escort to their flagged vessels while taking advantage of the cooperation of participating nations for coordination and enhanced maritime domain awareness and surveillance. While the United States has committed to supporting this initiative, contributions and leadership from regional and international partners will be required to succeed."

    The seizures come two weeks after British Royal Marines seized a tanker off the island of Gibraltar that authorities said carried oil bound for Syria in violation of European Union sanctions. Iran warned Britain that it would face "repercussions" over that seizure, which Tehran called “mean and wrong." Last week, a British warship blocked three Iranian vessels from seizing another U.K.-flagged tanker.

    UK Chamber of Shipping CEO Bob Sanguinetti said in a statement that the seizure was "in violation of international regulations which protect ships and their crews as they go about their legitimate business in international waters" and called on the British government to do "whatever is necessary" to ensure the safe and swift return of the ship's crew.

    Earlier Friday, Iran and the United States emphatically disagreed over Washington's claim that a U.S. warship downed an Iranian drone near the Persian Gulf. American officials said they used electronic jamming to bring down the unmanned aircraft, while Iran said it simply didn't happen.

    Neither side provided evidence to prove its claim.
    Iran insinuates US warship took down own drone by mistakeVideo

    At the White House on Friday, President Trump said flatly of the Iranian drone: "We shot it down." But Pentagon and other officials have said repeatedly that the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer actually jammed the drone's signal, causing it to crash, and did not fire a missile. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive technology.

    "There is no question this was an Iranian drone, and the USS Boxer took it out as the president announced yesterday because it posed a threat to the ship and its crew," National Security Adviser John Bolton said. "It's entirely the right thing to do."

    In Tehran, the Iranian military said all its drones had returned safely to their bases and denied there was any confrontation with the USS Boxer.

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    Maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz has deteriorated in recent weeks after six attacks on oil tankers that the U.S. has blamed on Iran -- an allegation the Tehran government denies. The incidents have jolted the shipping industry, with some of the 2,000 companies operating ships in the region on high alert and many ordering their vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz only during the daylight hours and at high speed.

    Of the roughly 2,000 companies that operate ships in the Persian Gulf, only a handful of companies have halted bookings outright.

    Fox News' Rich Edson, Jennifer Griffin, Lucas Tomlinson, Vandana Rambaran and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
    https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-u...rait-of-hormuz
    To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

  • #2
    Trump calls Iran 'nothing but trouble' after tankers seized
    I'm not sure about "nothing but trouble". They also have pistachios and flying carpets.

    Ignore me, I've had a few.
    "Every man has his weakness. Mine was always just cigarettes."

    Comment


    • #3
      I guess this was retaliation for the seizure of the Iranian tanker Grace-1 in Gibraltar by the Brits. The Iranians had threatened to seize a British ship after that. They didn't take the threat seriously I suppose.

      Comment


      • #4
        They don't have the fleet anymore
        Attached Files
        To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by troung View Post
          They don't have the fleet anymore
          Well in that case maybe they should leave the task of seizing other people's ships to countries that do.

          Comment


          • #6
            Whelp they are looking for allies to escort ships going forward.

            Iran is punking the west left and right, these sanctions need to be tightened further and backed with a little muscle.



            MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA
            JULY 22, 2019 / 12:16 PM / UPDATED 5 HOURS AGO
            Britain to seek European maritime mission to counter Iran's 'piracy'
            LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will seek to put together a European-led maritime protection mission to ensure safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran seized a British-flagged vessel in what London said was an act of “state piracy”.

            Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized the Stena Impero in the Strait on Friday. British Royal Marines seized an Iranian tanker off the coast of Gibraltar two weeks ago.

            “Under international law Iran had no right to obstruct the ship’s passage - let alone board her. It was therefore an act of state piracy,” Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told parliament.

            “We will now seek to put together a European-led maritime protection mission to support safe passage of both crew and cargo in this vital region,” Hunt said.

            He said Britain has had constructive discussions with a number of countries in the last 48 hours over the mission.

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            He also said he would discuss how this would complement U.S. proposals in the area but that Britain would not join the U.S. plan as it wanted to preserve the nuclear deal.

            “It will not be part of the US maximum pressure policy on Iran because we remain committed to preserving the Iran nuclear agreement,” Hunt said.

            Britain will now ask all British-flagged ships to give the government notice of intentions to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Hunt said.

            “We will then advise them as to the safest way to transit, which may involve travelling in convoy,” Hunt said, adding that Britain would also strengthen measures to protect ships flying the flags of other countries but which had British crew.

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            “It is of course not possible for the Royal Navy to provide escorts for every single ship or indeed eliminate all risks of piracy,” Hunt said.

            “But the risks can be substantially reduced if commercial shipping companies cooperate fully with instructions from the Department of Transport, which we strongly encourage them to do.”

            Reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by Alistair
            Last edited by troung; 23 Jul 19,, 04:09.
            To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by troung View Post
              Whelp they are looking for allies to escort ships going forward.
              Going by the overwhelming support they got after the Skirpal affair this rally appears doable.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Firestorm View Post
                Well in that case maybe they should leave the task of seizing other people's ships to countries that do.
                Thought the Euros were more sympathetic towards Iran. There are some old scores to settle here.
                Last edited by Double Edge; 24 Jul 19,, 19:13.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Can we call 'em the "British Tanker Wars" ?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    heh, there is this habit of kidnapping each others sailors for time to time : D

                    Comment


                    • #11

                      Can we call 'em the "British Tanker Wars" ?
                      Iran has taken more ships and has the stronger navy /s
                      Attached Files
                      Last edited by troung; 25 Jul 19,, 04:29.
                      To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Currently under construction;

                        the final three of seven Astute-class submarines,
                        the first of four Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines,
                        the second of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers,
                        the first of eight Type 26 frigates and
                        the ninth of eleven ocean-going patrol vessels.
                        Early design and preparation work has begun on a fleet of at least five of the upcoming Type 31 frigates.
                        The Royal Fleet Auxiliary will receive the final Tide-class tanker, which is presently being fitted out, in spring 2019.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-49225916
                          Iran 'seizes Iraqi tanker in Gulf for smuggling fuel'

                          Iran has seized another foreign tanker in the Gulf, state media reports claim.

                          Iranian forces seized the Iraqi ship for "smuggling fuel for some Arab countries" and detained seven sailors, according to the reports.

                          Iraq's oil ministry has said it has no connection to the seized vessel and that it is working to gather information about it.

                          The incident comes amid heightened tensions after the US tightened sanctions on Iran's oil sector.

                          The sanctions were reimposed after Washington's unilateral withdrawal from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal.

                          If confirmed, the Iraqi tanker would be the third foreign vessel to have been seized by Iran in recent weeks.
                          "Every man has his weakness. Mine was always just cigarettes."

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Ironduke View Post
                            Sounds like Iran is going the "Somali pirate" route
                            “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              US requests detention of Iran tanker in Gibraltar

                              The US Department of Justice has put in a request to detain supertanker Grace 1, which will be considered by Gibraltar's attorney general.

                              The vessel, carrying Iranian oil, was seized by Royal Marines on 4 July - triggering a standoff with Tehran.

                              It was set to be released within hours, after the attorney general indicated he would make no further order for its detention.

                              But after the US application the matter has been adjourned until 15:00 BST.

                              Gibraltar said the US application is based on a "number of allegations which are now being considered".

                              Earlier, the legal team for the captain, chief officer and a third crew member of the Grace 1 told the BBC formal police proceedings against them had ended.

                              They said police told them this was due to undertakings given by the Iranian government and that it was no longer in the public interest to proceed.

                              The legal team added their clients all want to go home subject to the formal handover of the vessel's captaincy.

                              The tanker was first seized due to evidence the tanker was heading for Syria, in breach of EU sanctions.

                              About 30 marines were flown from the UK to Gibraltar to help police detain the tanker and its cargo, at the request of the Gibraltar government.

                              The initial seizure of the tanker sparked a diplomatic crisis between the UK and Iran, which has escalated over recent weeks.

                              On 19 July, British-flagged and Swedish-owned oil tanker Stena Impero was seized by Iran's Revolutionary Guard in the Gulf.

                              Last week, the UK announced it would join a US-led taskforce to protect merchant ships travelling through the key shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz.

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