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posted by martyb on Friday June 14 2019, @09:30AM   Printer-friendly
from the smell-of-napalm-in-the-morning-means-higher-pump-prices dept.

Two Oil Tankers Attacked in the Middle East, Stoking Fears of Conflict

Two oil tankers on Thursday morning were reportedly attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil transport route that sits between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, echoing a similar attack last month and stoking fears about escalating tensions in the region.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for Thursday's attacks, but the U.S. blamed Iran for last month's bombing of four tankers in the same general area, without offering a clear explanation as to why. Iran denied that allegation, but it is embroiled in several conflicts in the region. It has long feuded with U.S.-allied Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—tensions only heightened by a clash over the civil war in Yemen—and Thursday's incident fueled fears that tensions in the region are approaching a breaking point.

Oil tanker attacks will inflame conflict between the US, its allies and Iran

Thursday's attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman caused jitters in global markets and unease across a region that has been bracing for conflict throughout much of the year. As with the earlier attacks on 12 May, news of the latest strikes was again broken by media outlets aligned to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran, who broadcast images of the attacks within minutes of them taking place.

Pictures of both ships ablaze spoke volumes about what is at stake in one of the world's most strategic waterways, as a regional player withering under ever tightening sanctions stares down a global superpower determined to impose its will.

Even the hint of obstruction in the strait of Hormuz, where ships pass each other like cars on a four lane motorway, is enough to upset oil markets. Frequent, and seemingly random, bombings of tankers, however, takes fears over energy security to levels not seen since the tanker wars, a byproduct of the Iran-Iraq war of the mid-80s, which sunk or damaged 543 ships in nearby waters and caused three years of turmoil in energy markets. By Thursday afternoon, two large shipping companies had suspended bookings from the Gulf oil ports.
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Iran strenuously denied involvement in the May attacks and, in remarks on Thursday, appeared to be following suit. Javad Zarif, the foreign minister, described the attacks as "beyond suspicious" and Iranian media suggested an attack on a Japanese-owned tanker taking place at the same time Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was meeting Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei pointed to a plot.

Iran views Trump with contempt, but on balance believes the economic war launched by his administration, and military threats, are designed not to start a bombing war, but to shore up a negotiating position, vis-a-vis a bid to redraw the nuclear deal that was signed by his predecessor, and torn up by Trump last year.

Khamenei is known to be vigorously opposed to any new talks, particularly from a perceived position of weakness, and has told subordinates to carefully calibrate any response to US moves, which he believes aim to wind back its regional gains since the US-led ousting of Saddam Hussein and bring his regime to heel.
...
Ali Vaez, senior Iran analyst and Iran project director for the International Crisis Group, observed: "If Iran is behind these attacks, it clearly shows that a US policy relying solely on coercion can backfire. Diplomatic efforts by allies are necessary to dial down the tension, but they can't resolve it as long as Washington relies on an all-or-nothing approach."


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  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 14 2019, @06:37PM (5 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 14 2019, @06:37PM (#855690)

    Tanker owner seems to dispute U.S. account of Gulf of Oman attack [cbsnews.com]

    Normally the MSM doesn't have a war they don't like, but their blind hatred of Trump's administration will deny Bolton and Pompeo the public drumbeating they need to have their plans succeed.

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  • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday June 14 2019, @09:30PM (4 children)

    by bob_super (1357) on Friday June 14 2019, @09:30PM (#855762)

    Ask W whether you actually need support to start a war, once you've decided.
    (Iran is too big for a full-scale war, though. Taking back the area around the strait is all Riyadh needs, and blowing up the Ayatollah is all Bibi needs)

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 15 2019, @12:45AM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 15 2019, @12:45AM (#855827)

      And remember how reluctant the MSM were then to challenge W and his junta's plans.

      But Trump's president now, and if he's saying trees are green, CNN will find a dead one and blame it on climate change.

      • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Saturday June 15 2019, @12:57AM (2 children)

        by bob_super (1357) on Saturday June 15 2019, @12:57AM (#855834)

        > And remember how reluctant the MSM were then to challenge W and his junta's plans.

        Fear of being branded a traitor by a rabid populace thirsty for revenge ... Always a good motivator !

        > But Trump's president now, and if he's saying trees are green, CNN will find a dead one and blame it on climate change.

        While CNN is regularly going over the top, because 24/7 and second place, one does not have to stretch much to notice how bafflingly simple and obvious facts usually disagree with POTUS's endless misleading claims.
        The man would not stoop down to saying that a tree is green, because he believes it's more beneficial to state that Pelosi is so dumb she can't see it's red, obviously totally red folks, and everyone who doesn't agree is fake news. Which Fox would then defend.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 15 2019, @01:34AM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 15 2019, @01:34AM (#855845)

          Fear of being branded a traitor by a rabid populace thirsty for revenge ... Always a good motivator !

          Keep in mind that stoking for war against Iraq started picking up more than a year after 9/11. Besides, half the voters in this country voted for Trump; the liberal media doesn't give a shit anymore whether a large part of the population gets offended at their message. The conservatives have switched their dial to Fox, where they hear news to make themselves feel better, while CNN et al hype up Trump's every facial tic to keep their (remaining) audience in a constant state of hysteria and righteous umbrage.

          The man would not stoop down to saying that a tree is green, because he believes it's more beneficial to state that Pelosi is so dumb she can't see it's red, obviously totally red folks, and everyone who doesn't agree is fake news.

          Nah, he would say something like "since I became President, our trees have become the best ever, our trees have the world's greatest green." But our resident president can let us know what he would say.

          • (Score: 2, Flamebait) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday June 15 2019, @10:24AM

            by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Saturday June 15 2019, @10:24AM (#855952) Homepage Journal

            I'll tell you about John. He has strong views on things but that’s O.K. I actually temper John, which is pretty amazing. I’m the one that tempers him. That’s O.K. I have different sides. I have John Bolton and other people that are a little more dovish than him. I like John. But I don't like getting into wars. And I'll tell you about Iran. I don't want a fight with Iran. I want a deal. But, if Iran wants a fight, if they ever threaten the United States again, that will be the official end of Iran. They will suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered. We are no longer a Country that will stand for their demented words of Violence & Death. Iran, if you're listening -- BE CAUTIOUS!!!!