Gulf of Oman attack – US releases video ‘showing Iranian navy boat removing mine from bombed oil tanker’ after accusing Tehran of attacking two ships

THE US has released footage which it claims shows an Iranian navy boat removing a mine from the side of a bombed oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman yesterday.

Washington has accused Tehran of lying about the "blatant" attacks on two ships which burst into flames on Thursday leading to the rescue of 44 crew members.

The tanker in the footage is the Kokuka Courageous while the second vessel attacked yesterday is the Front Altair which is now also believed to have been blasted by a mine.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pointed the finger at Iran and the Pentagon released the "proof" of Iran's involvement.

America claims the video and images shows Iran's Revolutionary Guard removing an unexploded limpet mine from the Courageous.

It is claimed the Islamic Republic sought to remove evidence of its involvement from the scene near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran strongly denies the "unfounded and reckless" claims accusing the US instead of spreading “disinformation”.

“The US and its regional allies must stop warmongering and put an end to mischievous plots and false flag operations in the region,” Iran's mission to the United Nations said.

“Warning, once again, about all of the US coercion, intimidation and malign behaviour, Iran expresses concern over suspicious incidents for the oil tankers that occurred today.”

While it was reported that the Altair was struck by a torpedo, it now appears that both tankers were attacked with limpet mines although the exact cause of the blasts has not been officially confirmed, Reuters reports.

Tehran previously used mines against oil tankers in 1987 and 1988 in the 'Tanker War' when the US Navy escorted ships through the region.

What we know so far:

• Two oil tankers were seriously damaged in attacks in the Gulf of Oman yesterday 
• The Front Altair and the Kokuka Courageous are believed to have been blasted by  mines
• It was initially reported that the Altair was struck by a torpedo - but it now appears that both ships were hit by magnetic mines
• Washington believes Iran is behind the shocking attacks
• The US released footage which it claims shows Iranian military removing a mine from the Courageous
• Tehran denies involvement and has accused the US of 'Iranophobia' 
• Almost 50 sailors had to be rescued from the stricken tankers in the Gulf

The US alleges Iran used similar mines to attack four oil tankers off the nearby Emirati port of Fujairah last month.

But the owner of the Kokuka Courageous has since said the tanker's crew saw "flying objects" before the attack, suggesting the ship was not damaged by mines, according to AP.

Company president Yutaka Katada offered no evidence for his claim, which contradicts the US military account.

Pompeo said the attacks were part of a "campaign" of "escalating tension" by Tehran which posed a threat to international peace and security.

Iran blasted his “inflammatory remarks” and said they amounted to “another Iranophobic campaign”.

BLAME GAME

"Iran categorically rejects the US unfounded claim with regard to 13 June oil tanker incidents and condemns it in the strongest possible terms,"; the Iranian mission said in a statement.

The hardline Islamic nation added that the US poses the "most significant threat" to the peace and security of the Persian Gulf region.

"The US economic war and terrorism against the Iranian people as well as the massive military presence in the region have been and continue to be the main sources of insecurity and instability in the wider Persian Gulf region and the most significant threat to its peace and security," the statement said.

Iran's foreign minister later dismissed the US accusations as "sabotage diplomacy".

Pompeo said the US will defend its forces and interests in the region but gave no specifics about any plans and he took no questions.

Hours later it was revealed the US Navy is sending the guided missile destroyer USS Mason to the scene of the attacks.

The USS Bainbridge rescued 21 of the 44 stricken sailors involved in the incident near the Strait of Hormuz.

Britain is working on the basis that Iran is responsible for the attacks and warned Tehran that their alleged behaviour was “deeply unwise”.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “This is deeply worrying and comes at a time of already huge tension.

"I have been in contact with Pompeo and, while we will be making our own assessment soberly and carefully, our starting point is obviously to believe our US allies.

WAR OF WORDS

“We are taking this extremely seriously and my message to Iran is that if they have been involved it is a deeply unwise escalation which poses a real danger to the prospects of peace and stability in the region."

Norwegian shipping firm Frontline, which owns the Altair, has denied Iranian reports that the tanker had sunk.

The ship was built in 2016 and is flagged to the Marshall Islands - a US associated state in the Pacific Ocean.

Chartered by Taiwan's state oil refiner CPC Corp, the huge vessel set sail from the UAE port of Ruwais on Tuesday and was due to arrive in Kaohsiung on June 30.

Speaking to Reuters, the CEO of CPC's petrochemical division Wu I-Fang said the tanker was "suspected of being hit by a torpedo."

He said it was carrying 75,000 tonnes of naphtha, a petrochemical feedstock, which trade sources estimate to be worth more than $30 million.

Paolo d'Amico, chairman of the tanker association, Intertanko, said concern was rising for other crews braving the powder keg shipping lanes.

'A MAJOR ESCALATION'

He said: "If the waters are becoming unsafe, the oil supply to the entire Western world could be at risk.”

It comes as tensions in the Persian Gulf between the United States and Iran are threatening to reach boiling point.

A Saudi-led coalition has described the attack as a "major escalation".

In recent weeks, Washington has sent a number of battleships to the region in response to what it says are Iranian threats against American interests and its allies in the region.

The Kokuka Courageous - which is owned by Japanese firm Kokuka Sangyohad - set sail from Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia on June 10 and was due to reach Singapore by June 22.

Oil prices rose by 3.5 per cent following news of the explosions, according to reports.

Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif branded the explosions as "suspicious" calling them "reported attacks on Japan-related oil tankers."

He said the incident had happened as Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a close American ally.

Speaking about the attacks, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said: “The President has been briefed on the attack on ships in the Gulf of Oman.

“The US Government is providing assistance and will continue to assess the situation.”

Authorities do not believe that any British nationals were on the two ships.

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are deeply concerned by reports of explosions and fires on vessels in the Gulf of Oman. We are in contact with local authorities and partners in the region.”

This comes after the US claimed Iran used explosives to blow huge holes in four ships - including two Saudi oil tankers - anchored in the Persian Gulf last month.

The ships reportedly had ruptures measuring up to ten foot across  in their hulls as a result of the May 12 sabotage attacks.

They were targeted near the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates - with one of the tankers due to be loaded with Saudi crude oil bound for the US.

A huge US naval presence has built up in the Gulf over recent weeks amid a fevered standoff between Washington and Tehran.

US intelligence revealed Iran was on the verge of carrying out offensive action to disrupt and attack American and partner interests in the region.

It led to the deployment of US aircraft carriers, Patriot missiles and B52 bombers over recent days.

Iran appears poised to break the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, an accord that President Trump pulled the US out of last year.

NUKE DEAL READY TO EXPLODE

In the agreement, Tehran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of crippling sanctions.

Now, Iran is threatening to resume enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade levels if European nations don't offer it new terms to the deal by July 7.

The Islamic Republic has said it quadrupled its production of low-enriched uranium.

Meanwhile, US sanctions have cut off opportunities for Iran to trade its excess uranium and heavy water abroad, putting Tehran on course to violate terms of the nuclear deal regardless.

What is the Iran nuclear deal?

The deal is an agreement between the Islamic Republic and a group of world powers aimed at scrapping the Middle Eastern country's nuclear weapons programme.

It saw Iran agree to eliminate its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium by 98 per cent.

According to the deal, Iran would receive relief from the US, the European Union and the United Nations Security Council on all nuclear-related economic sanctions.

The agreement was reached on July 14, 2015, and was signed by world powers in Vienna, Austria.

However,  on May 8, 2018, President Trump announced the US would withdraw from the agreement - which he has repeatedly called "insane" and ridiculous".

America's withdrawal from the deal mean crippling economic sanctions will once again be placed on Iran - further heightening tensions between the two countries.

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