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June 2019 Gulf of Oman incident

Coordinates: 24°42′51″N 58°44′15″E / 24.7143°N 58.7374°E / 24.7143; 58.7374
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June 2019 Gulf of Oman incident
File:A fireboat is extinguishing fire of Front Altair Tanker.jpg
The fire onboard tanker Front Altair being extinguished by an Iranian navy boat
DateJune 13, 2019 (2019-06-13)
LocationGulf of Oman
Coordinates24°42′51″N 58°44′15″E / 24.7143°N 58.7374°E / 24.7143; 58.7374
TargetMerchant ships operated by companies based in:
Non-fatal injuries1 crew member wounded[2]
Property damage2 merchant ships damaged[2]
Suspects Iran (alleged by the United States;[3] denied by Iran)[4]
Map

On June 13, 2019, two oil tankers were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz while transiting the Gulf of Oman. The Japanese Kokuka Courageous and Norwegian Front Altair were supposedly attacked with limpet mines, causing fire damage to both ships. Iranian, Dutch, and American personnel responded to the attacks and were involved in rescuing crew members from the ships. The attacks took place a month after the nearly identical May 2019 Gulf of Oman incident. The attacks occurred on the same day that Ayatollah Khamenei met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe in Iran. Abe was acting as an intermediary between Donald Trump and Khamenei.[5][6]

Amid heightened tension between Iran and the United States, the United States and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the attacks. Iran denied the accusation, blaming the United States for warmongering and spreading disinformation.[6]

Background

See also: Iran–United States relations § 2019 escalation in tensions, and May 2019 Gulf of Oman incident

Two incidents occurred when tensions were high among Iran, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. On May 8, 2018, the United States withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, reinstating sanctions against their nuclear program.[7] In response, Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, which could have a marked effect on the global oil market. The strait is a choke-point through which some 17.2 million barrels are transported each day, nearly 20-percent of global oil consumption.[8][9] Iran's oil production has hit a historic low as a result of sanctions; yet Saudi Arabia maintained supplies, leaving prices reasonably stable.[10] President Donald Trump has offered to hold talks with Iran regarding their nuclear program, offering to make them a deal which will remove sanctions and help fix their economy. However, he has not ruled out the possibility of a military conflict with Iran.[11] Iranian general Yadollah Javani said there will be no negotiations with the United States.[12]

During the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s, Iran had actively disrupted shipping of oil from Iraq (and vice versa), with the U.S. launching Operation Earnest Will to protect Kuwaiti tankers in response.[13] On May 5, 2019, National Security Advisor John R. Bolton announced that the U.S. was deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and four B-52 bombers to the Middle East to "send a clear and unmistakable message" to Iran following intelligence reports of an Iranian plot to attack U.S. forces in the region.[14][15]

The incident occurred almost a month after the May 2019 Gulf of Oman incident, where an international investigation stated that four oil tankers from Norway, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were targeted through a sophisticated operation placing limpet mines perpetrated by a "state actor".[16] US intelligence blamed the attacks on Iran, which increased tensions.[17]

The two oil tankers damaged in this incident were the Norwegian-owned Front Altair and the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous which were carrying petroleum products from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Front Altair was carrying naphtha from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and was traveling from Ruwais in the United Arab Emirates to Taiwan. Kokuka Courageous was carrying methanol from Jubail, Saudi Arabia and Mesaieed, Qatar and was headed to Singapore.[18][19]

The incident occurred during a two day diplomatic visit by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to Iran.[20] Abe was carrying a note from Donald Trump to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who rejected exchanging messages with Trump, stating "I do not see Trump as worthy of any message exchange, and I do not have any reply for him, now or in future". According to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the targeted ships were carrying "Japan-related" cargo.[6][21]

Incident

U.S. Navy sailors provide aid to the crew of the Kokuka Courageous onboard the USS Bainbridge

Front Altair and Kokuka Courageous were both transiting the Gulf of Oman heading southeast in international waters when explosions occurred. CPC Corporation, who was contracting Front Altair, reported that it may have been hit by a torpedo at around 04:00 GMT on June 13.[22][21] The Kokuka Courageous was holed above the water line on the starboard side.[23] According to the U.S. Navy, a distress call from Front Altair was received at 02:12 GMT (06:12 local time) and one from Kokuka Courageous at 03:00 GMT (07:00 local time).[24]

Both ships caught fire, but Frontline and Kokuka Sangyo, the respective owners of the two vessels, reported that all crew members from both ships had successfully evacuated.[6] Iranian News Agency (IRNA) initially reported that Front Altair had sunk, but the statement was later denied by a Frontline spokesman.[25] Other reports suggested that the attacks may have involved limpet mines.[5][26] Iran reported that they had rescued all 44 crew members of both vessels and taken them to Iran.[26] However, the United States Navy responded to assist both vessels after the attack and reported having rescued some of the crew.[5][26] A Dutch vessel rescued 21 people from Kokuka Courageous. This was confirmed by the Dutch shipping company Acta Marine. The crew members saw something suspicious on the hull, but could not identify it. After four hours the rescued crew was handed over to a "coalition ship".[27]

U.S. officials said that the guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge rescued 21 crew members from a tugboat that had rescued them from the burning Kokuka Courageous tanker.[3][28] The crew of 23 people of the Frontline’s Front Altair was transferred to an Iranian navy vessel and disembarked at a local Iranian port, later being transferred to Bandar Abbas.[29][30] Neither oil tanker was sunk in the attack, despite significant damage.[5] The U.S. navy later sent another destroyer USS Mason to the location of the incident.[31]

Alleged responsibility

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke to the press about the incident.
Footage released by the U.S. Central Command allegedly showing an IRGC patrol boat removing an unexploded limpet mine from Kokuka Courageous

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on the day of the incident that Iran was responsible for the attack. He based this assessment on "intelligence, the weapons used, the expertise needed" and "recent similar Iranian attacks on shipping".[32] The Iranian government, in response, denied any and all responsibility and criticized the accusation.[4][33]

On June 13, the U.S. military released a video which it said shows members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard removing an unexploded mine from the side of Kokuka Courageous.[24] Iranian officials denied the U.S. accusations as "baseless".[34]

On June 14, contradicting the U.S. narrative the head of the company that owns Kokuka Courageous, Yutaka Katada, said: "The crew members are saying that they were hit by a flying object. They saw it with their own eyes". Katada also stated that the "impact was well above the water."[24][35][36]

Reactions

Political

After news of the incident, the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated on Twitter, "Suspicious doesn't begin to describe what likely transpired this morning."[3] He described the attacks as a move by the B-team[c] to sabotage diplomacy.[37]

U.S. officials have blamed the attacks on Iran,[3][38] with United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stating that the U.S. "would defend its forces and interests in the region".[3] During an interview with Fox News, Trump further asserted the blame on Iran, calling the country "a nation of terror".[39] Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir agreed with the U.S. statements, stating that "Iran has a history of doing this".[40] The United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office also stated that they share the U.S. government's assessment that Iran is to blame for two attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, with British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt calling Iran's actions "deeply unwise".[41] Iran’s mission to the United Nations responded to the U.S. accusation by saying that the Iranian government “categorically rejects” the U.S. claim that it was responsible for the attacks and condemned it “in the strongest possible terms.”[42]

President of China Xi Jinping told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani during a SCO meeting that China would promote ties with Iran regardless of developments from the incident.[43] Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned "against hasty conclusions, against attempts to lay the blame at the door of those we don’t like".[44]

Paulo d'Amico, the chairman of the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners, expressed concerns for the safety of other vessels in the region and their crews.[26] As a result of the incident, shipping through the Strait has slowed, due to concerns of further damage.[45]

The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called on the United Nations Security Council to take action against those responsible and maintain maritime security.[46]

The United Nations Security Council met on June 13 in a closed door meeting regarding the incident.[47][needs context]

Economic

Amidst a months-long decrease, the price of oil initially increased by as high as 4% after the incident, then settled to an increase of 2%.[45][48][needs context] The price of insurance for cargo ships has also risen in response to the event, which could increase oil prices.[45]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The ship was flagged in Panama
  2. ^ The ship was flagged in the Marshall Islands[1]
  3. ^ Used to refer to Bolton, Bin Salman, Bin Zayed and Bibi

References

  1. ^ Kirkpatrick, David D.; Pérez-Peña, Richard; Reed, Stanley (June 13, 2019). "Tankers Are Attacked in Mideast, and U.S. Says Video Shows Iran Was Involved". Retrieved June 14, 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ^ a b "Gulf of Oman tankers attacked: Live updates". www.cnn.com. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e "U.S. official says "highly likely" Iran behind new tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "U.S. blames Iran for tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman, Iran rejects..." Reuters. June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d Gambrell, Jon (June 13, 2019). "Tankers targeted near Strait of Hormuz amid Iran-US tensions". AP NEWS. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d Pérez-Peña, Richard; Reed, Stanley; Kirkpatrick, David D. (June 13, 2019). "Tankers Attacked Again in Gulf of Oman, Raising Fears of Wider Conflict". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  7. ^ "Trump Withdraws U.S. From 'One-Sided' Iran Nuclear Deal". The New York Times. May 8, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  8. ^ correspondent, Saeed Kamali Dehghan Iran (July 5, 2018). "Iran threatens to block Strait of Hormuz over US oil sanctions". Retrieved June 14, 2019 – via www.theguardian.com. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ "Factbox: Strait of Hormuz - the world's most important oil artery". Reuters. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  10. ^ "Iran's Oil Production Has Hit Historic Lows As Saudis Take Market Share". Radio Farda. June 4, 2019.
  11. ^ Toosi, Nahal (May 9, 2019). "Trump to Iran: Call me, maybe". Politco.
  12. ^ "After Trump invite, Iran commander says: No talks with US". Associated Press. May 10, 2019.
  13. ^ Gambrell, Jon (June 14, 2019). "Oil tanker attacks echo Persian Gulf's 1980s 'Tanker War'". Associated Press. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  14. ^ "Bolton: U.S. sending Navy strike group to Iran to send "clear message"". Axios. May 6, 2019.
  15. ^ "Israel passed White House intelligence on possible Iran plot". Axios. May 6, 2019.
  16. ^ Yee, Vivian (June 7, 2019). "UAE tanker attacks blamed on 'state actor'". BBC. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  17. ^ "Iran news: Details of tanker "sabotage" murky as Trump warns Iran and U.S. casts first blame". CBS News. May 14, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  18. ^ "The Latest: US officials believe threat from Iran not over". ABC News. June 13, 2019.
  19. ^ "US blames Iran for attacks on tankers in Gulf of Oman". Middle East Eye. June 13, 2019. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ "Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets Iranian leadership, tries to ease tensions with United States". South China Morning Post. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Oil tankers on fire after 'torpedo' attack in Gulf of Oman". Sky News. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  22. ^ "What we know about Gulf of Oman tanker 'attacks'". BBC. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  23. ^ Jaganathan, Jessica (June 13, 2019). "Bernhard Shulte says its tanker Kokuka Courageous damaged after 'suspected attack'". Reuters. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  24. ^ a b c "US says video shows Iran removing unexploded mine". BBC. June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  25. ^ "Frontline spokesman denies IRNA report that Front Altair has sunk". Reuters. June 13, 2019.
  26. ^ a b c d "Crews rescued after Gulf tanker explosions". June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  27. ^ "Nederlands schip redt opvarenden". Telegraaf (in Dutch). June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  28. ^ "Bainbridge Answers Distress Call". U.S. Central Command. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  29. ^ "Front Altair's crew unharmed and now in Iran: shipping firm". Reuters. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  30. ^ TV, Press (June 13, 2019). "Video shows crewmembers of a tanker hit by suspicious blast in Sea of Oman who were saved by Iranian rescue teams and transferred to Jask port. #SeaofOmanpic.twitter.com/XE2Nd5cynF". @PressTV. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  31. ^ "US destroyer USS Mason en route to the scene of attacks in Gulf". Al Arabiya. June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  32. ^ Wong, Edward (June 13, 2019). "Pompeo Says Intelligence Points to Iran in Tanker Attack in Gulf of Oman". The New York Times. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  33. ^ Washington, Patrick Wintour Julian Borger in (June 13, 2019). "Mike Pompeo blames Iran for oil tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman". The Guardian. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  34. ^ "Iran issues denial after US says video shows involvement in tanker attacks". The Straits Times. June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  35. ^ Harding, Robin. "Owner of stricken Japanese tanker says 'flying object' likely hit ship". Financial Times. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  36. ^ "Iran denies tanker attacks as tensions soar". Agence France Presse. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  37. ^ "Iran's Zarif: B-Team Moving to Sabotage Diplomacy - Politics news". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  38. ^ News, A. B. C. "Two tankers attacked in Gulf of Oman, US not ruling out Iran is responsible". ABC News. Retrieved June 13, 2019. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  39. ^ "'Iran did do it': Trump addresses tanker attacks, points to US military video of removing mine". USA Today. June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  40. ^ "Saudi Arabia agrees Iran was behind tanker attacks: Saudi minister". Reuters. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  41. ^ "SAUDIS, UK AGREE THAT IRAN BEHIND ATTACKS, IRAN DENIES INVOLVEMENT". The Jerusalem Post. June 14, 2019. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  42. ^ "Tankers struck near Strait of Hormuz; US blames Iran". Associated Press. June 13, 2019.
  43. ^ "Xi says China will promote steady ties with Iran". Reuters. June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  44. ^ "Russia says don't use tanker attacks to pressure Iran: RIA". Reuters. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  45. ^ a b c "Attacks On Tankers In Gulf Of Oman Send Oil Prices Up, Sharply". NPR.org. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  46. ^ "U.S. calls attacks on commercial shipping 'unacceptable'". Reuters. June 13, 2019.
  47. ^ "U.S. to raise Mideast tanker attacks in U.N. Security Council:..." Reuters. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  48. ^ "Oil prices rise 2% after tanker attacks near Iran". Reuters. June 12, 2019.
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