The US released video Thursday that it said showed Iranians removing an explosive device from the hull of a Japanese oil tanker that was one of two ships attacked earlier in the day, as tensions skyrocketed over the incident.
In the video, reportedly taken from the USS Bainbridge, a smaller boat can be seen pulling up to the side of the Kokuka Courageous and a crew member seemingly take an object off the hull.
The Pentagon said that the object was an unexploded mine, showing the video as proof that Iran was behind the attack on the vessel and an explosion that set the Norwegian owned Front Altair ablaze in the Gulf of Oman, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
A picture released by the US Central Command showed a triangular shape on the side of the Kokuka Courageous that the US said was a likely mine. The picture also showed a hole in the side of the ship, apparently from a second mine that did explode.
According to a US official, initial evidence suggested the attack against the Kokuka Courageous was conducted by Iran with a mine similar to what was used against oil tankers off the UAE last month. The official, who declined to provide additional details or evidence, spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss initial findings that have not been made public.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US assessment of Iran’s involvement was based in part on intelligence, as well as the expertise needed for the operation.
It was also based on recent incidents in the region that the U.S. also blamed on Iran, including the use of limpet mines — designed to be attached magnetically to a ship’s hull — to attack four oil tankers off the nearby Emirati port of Fujairah and the bombing of an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia by Iranian-backed fighters in May, he said.
“Taken as a whole, these unprovoked attacks present a clear threat to international peace and security, a blatant assault on the freedom of navigation and an unacceptable campaign of escalating tension by Iran,” Pompeo said. He provided no evidence, gave no specifics about any plans and took no questions.
At the United Nations, the United States asked for closed Security Council consultations on the tanker incidents later Thursday.
Iran’s UN Mission said the government “categorically rejects” the U.S. claim that it was responsible for the attacks and condemned it “in the strongest possible terms.”
Iran denied being involved in the attacks last month and its foreign minister questioned the timing of Thursday’s incidents, given that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was meeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
Pompeo noted that Abe had asked Iran to enter into talks with Washington but Tehran “rejected” the overture.
“The supreme leader’s government then insulted Japan by attacking a Japanese-owned oil tanker just outside Iranian waters, threatening the lives of the entire crew, creating a maritime emergency,” Pompeo added.
No comments:
Post a Comment