Near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, two oil tankers were attacked.
The US points a finger at Iran.
“It is the assessment of the U.S. government that Iran is responsible for today’s attacks in the Gulf of Oman….”@StateDept @SecPompeo pic.twitter.com/sTIB0p1kCE
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2019
The Guardian notes the crew of two tankers was evacuated following Oil Tanker Attacks in the Gulf of Oman.
Tensions in the Gulf have been close to boiling point for weeks as the US puts pressure on Iran in an attempt to forceTehran to reopen talks about the 2015 nuclear deal, which the US pulled out of last year. In May four tankers were attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The US blamed those attacks on Iran – an accusation Tehran has denied.
The timing of Thursday’s attacks was especially sensitive because it came as the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, held talks with the Iranian leadership in Tehran in an effort to find a basis for discussions between the US and Iran. Japan’s trade ministry said the two oil tankers carried “Japan-related” cargo.
In a sign of how the Yemen civil war and the wider US-Iranian tensions are becoming intertwined, Riyadh accused Tehran of ordering a Yemeni rebel missile strike that wounded 26 people at a Saudi airport on Wednesday.
Oil Tanker Attack Location
False Flag
It makes zero sense for Iran to have attacked Japanese tankers when Japan was on a mission to better relations between the US and Iran.
Tweet Stating the Obvious
Here we go again. US Empire creating a pretext to go to war with Iran. It makes no sense that Iran would provoke a war with US Empire while Iran tries to salvage the nuclear deal with Europe. This situation looks manufactured as hell. The pro-war US media can’t wait to sell this.
— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) June 13, 2019
Naturally Iran will attack 1/ Japanese methanol tanker to celebrate the first visit to Iran by a Japanese president since the Islamic revolution 2/ Norwegian tanker owned by the same company who carried Iranian oil under fire from Saddam during the Gulf War #OOTT https://t.co/2rVzV60okB
— Chris Cook (@cjenscook) June 13, 2019
Detained or Rescued?
ZeroHedge reports US Officials Say Tanker Crew “Detained” – While Russia Thanks Iran For “Rescuing” Its Nationals
Speaking to reporters Friday he said: “Japan adamantly condemns the act that threatened a Japanese ship, no matter who attacked,” and further urged “all related countries” to avoid any “accidental confrontation” or an escalation of tensions.
The Trump ally also spoke to the US president by phone on Friday, reportedly briefing him on his visit to Iran, Abe confirmed in his remarks, though without detailing what he conveyed to the White House. Trump had previously said during a Fox & Friends telephone interview that “it’s probably got essentially Iran written all over it.”
Russia thanked Iran for helping rescue 11 Russian nationals who had been aboard one of the tankers, which is a stark contradiction to the claims of US officials, who are now saying Iran had detained the crew.
Seven Reasons To Be Highly Skeptical Of The Gulf Of Oman Incident
Caitlin Johnstone at Medium.com wrote a brilliant article Seven Reasons To Be Highly Skeptical Of The Gulf Of Oman Incident.
- Pompeo has a well-established history of circulating blatant lies about Iran and the behavior of the Iranian government, and he recently told an audience at Texas A&M University that when he was leading the CIA, “We lied, we cheated, we stole. We had entire training courses.”
- The US empire is known to use lies and false flags to start wars.
- John Bolton has openly endorsed lying to advance military agendas.
- Using false flags to start a war with Iran is already an established idea in the DC swamp.
- The US State Department has already been running psyops to manipulate the public Iran narrative.
- The Gulf of Oman narrative makes no sense.
- Even if Iran did perpetrate the attack, Pompeo would still be lying.
Caitlin makes a powerful case for skepticism. I encourage you to read her entire article.
Best Guess Who Did It?
US Blames Iran for Gulf of Oman Attacks, Who is Likely?
HT @caitoz for an outstanding article, @zerohedge https://t.co/49uC0riUbp
— Mike “Mish” Shedlock (@MishGEA) June 14, 2019
I rate Iran (state sponsored) about a 1% chance. Add another percent or so, not much more for an unsponsored Iranian group acting on their own, hoping to topple the government.
Twitter only allows 4 choices. Pick the best choice.
Expanding the list, here are my guesses, in order: Saudi Arabia, Israel, US, none of the above but not Iranian government sponsored, unsponsored Iranians, Iran.
Addendum
It is entirely possible the US orchestrated this behind Trump’s back.
I do not believe Trump authorized this.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
The picture shows damage to the right side of the ship. The ship would have been traveling east. The attack would have come from the south. Iran is to the north.
Good observation, but maybe Iran attacked from the south to make it look like it didn’t come from them.
In the end it doesn’t matter who’s at fault. The US will never change their mind, no matter what evidence is presented.
The whole thing get very Machiavellian. Was it fired from the north and turned 180 degrees to make it look it came from the south or came from the south but it can be claimed it really came from the north to hide it actual came from the south.
Of course it was Iran. And it makes a lot of sense. There is a war on, and we, U.S. have wounded Iran badly. Trump is under the tutelage of Netanyahu. We are fighting Iran like Jews. It is a venue where we, as zio-mericans have all of the power. It is in the economic realm as well as military. But there is a limit to what power can do. Iran can close the shipping lanes and she can keep them closed long enough to crash the world economy. And that is exactly what she intends to do. Are you all ready for a new depression that will make 1929 look like a cakewalk.
Neither did it make sense to threaten closure of the straits. Nor did it make sense to threaten Israel with total annihilation. Nor did it make sense to sponsor attacks in other countries.
Yet, the Iranian regime made these threats and sponsored attacks.
I eagerly await an updated report from the all knowing Colonel Cassad.
The Fed is ready with the printing presses to finance the “global war on terror 2.0”,i’m guessing a trillion to get operation enduring freedom 2.0 up and running,add
another trillion to get the Abrams into Tehran and at least one more tril to occupy,that’s triple the cost of Desert Storm one…do it know before theUS economy collapses on itself!
Presidential Medal of Freedom on the line.
In the end it is because of Trump’s idiocy to get fooled as to why we are here. Now we see if he actually is different than other presidents.
A European payment system designed to circumvent US sanctions on Iran will be ready soon, Germany announced on Monday. link to aljazeera.com
Trump continues to call for negotiations with Iran but he can accept nothing but a total capitulation. Trump also proved that the U.S. does not stick to the agreements it makes. There is therefore no hope for Iran to achieve anything through negotiations. There is only one way to counter Trump’s maximum pressure campaign and that is by putting maximum pressure on him.
link to moonofalabama.org
It’s probably Russia trying to draw the US into another proxy war. Destabilizing the world is Russia’s goal.
In any case it is a good thing that few people still believe pronouncements from official sources.
Caitlins arguments actually show a weakness the US has that Iran might use to their own advantage. Thus, under those conditions it makes sense for Iran to attack the ships. Bernard at Moon of Alabama has an interesting theory along this line that I would recommend you to check out. Some players, but not Trump, might actually be playing 3D chess 😉
Not really one to care one way or the other who supposedly “ordered it,” as the Gulf region have plenty of P’ed off guys who like to blow stuff up; but I’m surprised noone fingers the Kremlin as being involved.
As opposed to giving much of a toot about US elections, this sort of thing is right up their alley: Increased tension almost always leads to higher oil prices. More and more Gulf oil going to growing, “younger” economies with little ability to do much to protect their own oil imports, hence being dependent on traditional powers. America dazed and confused, hence weak, untrustworthy and untrusted etc. etc. All enabling Russia to step in and play for a bigger part in the ensuing vacuum. Both as a direct actor, and as arms and “security” supplier, “neutral” third party etc…
Yeah sure, if it wasn t for the fact that Russia has been bullied by the NATO/UK/US criminal organisation for years now, showing admirable restraint ALL of the time(except for the Ukraine drop in the bucket) ! I don t think Russia is longing to get involved into this Iran mess ! It is the fckn US of A, the world’ s WARMONGER N°1 creating conflicts wherever it can in order to serve the interests of its WAR & ARMS business , its ONLY export product !!
Turns out the Japanese have been continually buying oil from Iran. This is likely a warning to them to toe the line by the US.
The crew and owner have vehemently stated that they witnessed flying objects prior to the explosion.
It makes sense that Iran would attack one of their few customers ships, right? Get outta here with that BS!
It’s a pressure strategy – puts pressure on Iran to talk as the US has invaded countries for less otherwise the US destroys the country like all the rest. They don’t care about perception as they got the biggest gun.
Don’t forget MEK
Whenever I read “US intelligence assesses” it’s guaranteed to be BS — otherwise they would have some proof. Cannot believe anybody would ever believe anything come from USA 3-letter agencies if you take stock of their record.
Makes no sense, you say? Excuse me. President Trump cannot lose 2020 if a war is in progress. USA does not need to win, but can carpet bomb Tehran, and any assets. Thereafter China must concede to Trump Terms of Trade. All Chinese manufacturing relocates to USA. Tehran won’t be meddling in the middle east ever again. Period. Stop. I call it win win win win. Your call?
All Chinese manufacturing relocates to the USA ??
What are you on ??
I’m on a Chinese reality check just like President Donald Trump. Let me tell you how it plays. After President Trump raises tariffs on China to 200% the Democrats would never ever repeal the $1Trillion revenue. Tariffs are permanent. How high the tariffs go is all up to when the Chinese squeal like pigs. China is an economic basket case of criminal hubris.
If and when manufacturing relocates to Viet Nam the tariffs shift to Viet Nam. Any CEO drooler who relocates to Viet Nam is a stock sell.
So many trolls on the internet.
“can carpet bomb Tehran“
Gee I don’t know. Have you considered stopping watching old Rambo movies and a get a grip with reality?
It is entirely possible the US orchestrated this behind Trump’s back.
I do not think Trump authorized this.
Seems likely that this is a false flag and Trump didn’t know, but this is a huge test for the Q people out there. If Trump can be easily tricked into a major conflict, the 4D chess narrative is gone forever.
Trumpty is a tard. Likely busy eating McDonalds in bed. Easily tricked? Put a Big Mac or an underage girl before him and he is locked down.
Comedy.
Sorry, this link is not related to this article but should be of great interest to you since you have often commented and talked about this subject:
“I do not think Trump authorized this.“
That is so irrelevant. I think he authorized and encouraged. I think this was your last reason you used to vote for him. In other words he is not a war monger. So here is what I think. If he is about to lose 2020 he will start a war just like everyone else has done.
Any of the first three and likely ALL three executed the false flag. Only Americans would think like this and be this stupid to perpetrate some BS on ones own doorstep. Iran is not stupid.
Saudi Arabia and Israel both seem plausible since each is bitterly opposed to Iran’s nuclear program. Each is probably also willing to kill if that stops the program. As for the US staging this for a false flag, I hope you are mistaken about that, Mish. US leaders are truly evil and the average citizen in the US is in desperate trouble if our guys are doing this as an excuse. If we are going to war, the least we can do is be honest with ourselves about why we are there; and no, “making the world safe for democracy” is not a good reason. It’s a damn poor reason.
I don’t know who did it but you have to love Trump’s consistency here. American intelligence agencies say Russia interfered with the election. Putin says he didn’t. Trump believes Putin. Iran says they didn’t attack the tankers, American intelligence agencies say they did. Trump believes the swamp.