Trump says US ‘moving forward’ with additional sanctions on Iran

[yota691]

Trump allows negotiations with Iran

Date of release: 2019/7/20 10:38 • 325 times read

US President Donald Trump announced that he had allowed Republican Senator Rand Paul to negotiate with Iran on easing tensions in the Gulf region.

"Rand, my friend, asked me if he could engage [in negotiations] and I answered yes," Trump said in a White House press statement. 
"If other senators ask me to get involved, I may also say yes, depending on who they are," Trump said. "I have a lot of people involved in this, and Iran will work very well."

[yota691]

Shamkhani: Reducing the obligations of the nuclear agreement is the only way to confront Washington

Release date: 2019/7/20 11:13 • 118 times read

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, said the statements made by US national security adviser John Bolton confirm that Tehran's steps to reduce its obligations under the nuclear deal are the only way to confront a country that does not accept any international treaty.

Shamkhani said in a press statement that "Bolton's remarks, which deny Iran's right to enrich uranium, are a symbol of violations of unilateral treaties and have no legal value worldwide." 
"Such statements confirm that Iran's steps towards reducing its commitments under the nuclear agreement is the only way to confront a country that does not accept any international treaty." 
"Accepting Iran's right to enrich uranium by the United States was one of the conditions for starting the 5 + 1 negotiations and the nuclear agreement was the result of those negotiations," Shamkhani said. 
"The 5 + 1 countries have recognized in the nuclear agreement Iran's right to enrich uranium and Iran's right to own this technology," he said. 
"Security Council resolution 2231 is a global document on Iran's right to enrich uranium and requires states to recognize it," Shamkhani said.

[yota691]

Britain responds to the carrier's detention by warning its vessels

Release date: 2019/7/20 11:17 • 180 times read

{International: The Euphrates News} The United Kingdom advised British ships to stay outside the Strait of Hormuz "temporarily" after Iran seized an oil tanker flying the British flag.
 

We are still deeply concerned about Iran's unacceptable actions, which are a clear challenge to international shipping, and we have advised British ships to remain temporarily out of the area, "a British government spokesman said in a statement. 
An Iranian agency quoted an official as saying on Saturday that the British carrier "Stena Empero" hit an Iranian fishing boat and ignored his distress call. 
The agency also quoted the official as saying that the 23 crew members of the tanker were currently in the port of Bandar Abbas and would remain on board until the end of an investigation. 
Britain announced on Friday that Iran had detained the oil tankers "Masdar" and "Stina Empero", after the two vessels changed their direction and moved towards the Iranian coast.
The British company "Norbolk" British shipping, on Friday night, that the Revolutionary Guard released her ship, "issued", after being seized by elements for some time while sailing in the Strait of Hormuz.

[yota691]

Iran reveals the reality of the closure of one of its nuclear reactors

World | 02:36 - 20/07/2019

 

 

 

Mawazine News 
Iran revealed on Saturday the truth about what is being circulated about the closure of Fordo nuclear facilities. 
According to the Iranian news agency "Irna" said the spokesman of the National Atomic Energy Organization Bahruz Kamalunde "in response to some rumors about the closure of Fordo nuclear facilities" that "the facilities have not been closed." 
Kamalundi added that "the facilities have not been closed and that the National Center for vacuum activity in which and research and development valves vacuum." 
He also said that "vacuum valves have complex nuclear uses and that US nuclear analyst David Albright acknowledged in his latest report the development of this technology." 
The spokesman for the National Organization for Nuclear Energy to the accession of Iran to the countries that possess quantum technology (Quantum).
He said that the important and valuable event that is on the doors of verification in the Organization of Energy is "the entry into the global technological revolution, which Quantum, which will change a lot in the coming decades in the development of communications and processors super fast." 
"The National Center for you will soon experience the connection of quantum atoms to a distance of one meter. This will be Iran, the first country in the Middle East and the Islamic world that possesses this technology and among several countries in the field of inhibition of particles in quantum and photons." 
A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, has announced that all participants in Iran's comprehensive joint nuclear action plan should be a collective guarantor of projects to change the facility in Fordo and modernize the reactor in Arak.
"We believe that all the countries currently involved in the nuclear deal should act as collective guarantors of the agreed projects," Zakharova said on Wednesday. 
"These projects are an integral part of the agreements. The participants in the nuclear agreement must be shown their willingness to work together to achieve more, regardless of sanctions procedures, unilateral unilateral steps by the United States," she said. 
Iran earlier told the ambassadors of Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia the decision of the Supreme National Security Council to "stop implementing certain commitments" under the agreement on the nuclear program and give the European countries 60 days to prove their commitment to the nuclear agreement with his country. 
Iran has announced the start of an increase in the production of enriched uranium by more than 3.67 percent, threatened to return to the pre-nuclear agreement if European countries did not implement their commitments.
The United States announced its withdrawal from the nuclear agreement on May 8, 2018, and the re-imposition of all sanctions against Tehran, including secondary sanctions, against other countries that deal with Iran.

[yota691]

Iranian atomic energy: We will do this nuclear test soon

By AhadNA3  Articles 20/07/2019 03:12 PM | Number of readings:

 

A spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Bahruz Kemalundi, said the nuclear facility of Ferdo had not been shut down, noting that Iran would soon conduct its first unique test with regard to atom atoms at distances of more than one meter.

"The facility has not been shut down, and the National Quantum Vacuum Center is active in this group and research is under way to develop the vacuum valves," Kamalundi said in a commentary on what was reported about the closure of the Ferdo nuclear facility.

A spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran: The vacuum valves have uses in complex nuclear industries, where the US nuclear expert David Albright, in his latest report the development of this technology.

"Another important event at the Atomic Energy Organization is entering the doors of the global technology revolution, the Quantum, which will revolutionize communications development and build high-speed processors in the coming decades," he said, referring to Iran's advanced position among nations with quantum mechanics.

Iran will be the first country in the Middle East and the Islamic world to have the technology, one of the few countries in the world in the field of quantum mechanics, the spokesman said. Control of quantum atoms and photons

[yota691]

Iran escalates detention of British tanker in violation of international laws

- 1 Minute Ago

LONDON (Reuters) - The United Kingdom has advised British ships to stay outside the Strait of Hormuz for a "temporary period" after Iran holds a British flag carrier.

"We remain deeply concerned about Iran's unacceptable actions, which are a clear challenge to international navigation," a British government spokesman said in a statement. We advised the British ships to stay outside the area for a temporary period. "

The Iranian authorities said on Saturday that the British-flagged oil tanker, which Iran seized, was anchored off the port of Bandar Abbas with all its crew on board, and an investigation was opened after it collided with a fishing boat.

The Director General of Ports and Maritime Navigation in the province of Hormozkan God Murad Afifi Bor, that the tanker owned by Sweden, "Stina Impiro" had "crashed into a fishing vessel," adding to the Fars news agency that "the crew of this tanker is 23 people and all on board."

And 18 crew members from India, including the captain, and others from the Philippines, Latvia and Russia.

"After the collision, the crew of the fishing vessel contacted the tanker but did not receive a response," Afifith Bohr said. "When the British carrier did not respond, the crew of the fishing vessel informed the management of the port of Hormuzgan, according to legal procedures."

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said on Friday that it had "confiscated" the tanker "Stina Impero", in the Strait of Hormuz for violating "the laws of the international seas."

Britain confirmed that Iran had seized two tankers in the Gulf, but the second carrier, which was owned by a British company and was flying the flag of Liberia, was briefly surrounded by armed elements but was then allowed to leave, according to its British owner, noting all crew members were "safe and secure."

Iran on Friday detained a British-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz in a new escalation of tension in the Gulf, one of the most important shipping lanes, prompting British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to warn of "serious consequences."

Hunt told Sky News that the oil tanker "Stina Empero" was seized by four boats and a helicopter and taken to Iranian territorial waters. A second British oil tanker called Masdar was released after briefly being held, British shipping company Norblick Shipping UK said on Friday night.

"What happened in the Gulf sends worrying signals that Iran may choose a dangerous route by pursuing illegal and destabilizing behavior," Hunt said.

He stressed that Britain "will respond in a strong way and we are very clear that if this problem is not resolved quickly there will be serious consequences."

"We are not looking at the military option, we are looking at a diplomatic way to solve the problem, but we are clear that it must be resolved."

Tensions have risen between Iran and Britain since the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar for alleged violation of sanctions imposed on Syria on July 4.

London later accused Tehran of harassing a British ship in the Gulf.

Tensions in Iran and the West have grown sharply in recent months because of security in the Gulf, US sanctions on Iran and Tehran's nuclear program.

The events in the Gulf region have raised international concerns that the two sides are sliding into a war in the vital strategic waterway of world oil supplies. That pushed oil prices above $ 62 a barrel.

Iran dropped a US marlin in the Gulf in June and the British navy seized an Iranian tanker in Gibraltar on July 4 on suspicion of smuggling oil to Syria.

Iran and the United States on Friday also disputed US assurances that its navy had shot down an Iranian marlin aircraft on Thursday in the Strait of Hormuz, too close to an American destroyer, which Iran continues to deny.

The Arabs

[yota691]

Iran, John Kerry (aka) Obama expect the European to implement another financial system to side track us sanctions. just went out the window, with these actions. The whole world is watching this tiny little country...Not good for Iran

[yota691]

The European Union expresses its deep concern and warns of further escalation after the detention of Iran, the British carrier

World | 04:55 - 20/07/2019

 

 

 

BAGHDAD ( 
Reuters) - The European Union (EU) on Saturday expressed its deep concern, warning of further escalation after Iran's seizure of the British oil tanker. 
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced earlier Friday that the detention of the British oil tanker on Friday in the Gulf waters sends "disturbing" signals that Iran has chosen a "dangerous" and "destabilizing" route to stability following the capture of the Iranian carrier "Grace 1" in "Gibraltar", stressing that (London) will ensure the safety of transporters

[Butifldrm]

New Video Shows IRGC Commandos Fast-Roping To Deck Of Seized Oil Tanker

by Tyler Durden

Sat, 07/20/2019 - 11:48

 

 

update: Earlier Iran released footage of the detained British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, but hours after the first images were revealed, more video was aired on Iranian state TV, this time showing the dramatic IRGC military raid on the vessel.

Iranian special forces troops fast-roped down to the deck via helicopter while IRGC boats circled near the vessel.

Babak Taghvaee@BabakTaghvaee

 

 

#BREAKING: #IRGC released video of seizure of Stena Impero, the #UK's Oil Tanker in #HormuzStrait yesterday. A Mi-171 transport helicopter of #IRGC Navy Aviation base at #BandarAbbas was used for heliborne & fast-roping of #IRGC Navy Special Forces on the deck of the Oil tanker.

 

 

42

10:38 AM - Jul 20, 2019

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Iran's Press TV described:

The footage shows Iranian speedboats cruising near Stena Impero tanker as a military helicopter is flying over the vessel.

An Iranian marine could be heard communicating with the command center in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

Masked Iranian commandos then rappelled on the deck of the tanker from the helicopter. The name of the ship can be seen in the video.

 

* * * 

Iran has released the first images of the detained British flagged oil tanker Stena Impero after its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced its seizure Friday in retaliation for the UK's prior capture of the 'Grace 1' off Gibraltar earlier this month. 

 

Babak Taghvaee@BabakTaghvaee

 

 

#BREAKING: #IRGC released video of seizure of Stena Impero, the #UK's Oil Tanker in #HormuzStrait yesterday. A Mi-171 transport helicopter of #IRGC Navy Aviation base at #BandarAbbas was used for heliborne & fast-roping of #IRGC Navy Special Forces on the deck of the Oil tanker.

 

42

10:38 AM - Jul 20, 2019

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Iran's Press TV described:

The footage shows Iranian speedboats cruising near Stena Impero tanker as a military helicopter is flying over the vessel.

An Iranian marine could be heard communicating with the command center in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

Masked Iranian commandos then rappelled on the deck of the tanker from the helicopter. The name of the ship can be seen in the video.

 

* * * 

Iran has released the first images of the detained British flagged oil tanker Stena Impero after its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced its seizure Friday in retaliation for the UK's prior capture of the 'Grace 1' off Gibraltar earlier this month. 

EHA News@eha_news

 

 

#BREAKING #Iran’s ISNA releases the first footage of the detained #British oil tanker Stena Impero

 

 

15

4:34 AM - Jul 20, 2019

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The Swedish-owned and British flagged tanker is also no longer under control of crew and hasn't been able to be contacted since being forced into Iranian waters Friday, according to a statement from its owner Stena Bulk.

"Soon after the vessel was approached by unidentified small naval craft and a helicopter during her transit of the Strait of Hormuz in international waters... the vessel suddenly deviated from her passage to Jubail and headed north towards Iran," the company said in statement. 

Iran's IRNA quoted an Iranian maritime official as saying, "There are 18 Indian and five crew members from Russia, Philipines, Latvia and other countries on board of Stena Impero. The captain is Indian, but the tanker is UK-flagged."   

As of Saturday morning Indian government officials have confirmed India is in contact with Tehran to secure the release of the majority Indian crew. 

via Sky News

Meanwhile, the second foreign vessel which was captured Friday - Liberian flagged, UK-owned tanker 'Mesdar' - was reportedly released after being briefly boarded by Iran's military, as we detailed previously. 

UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned Iran of "serious consequences" if its military does not return control of the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, according to Sky News. He said British action will be "robust" but also emphasized "we're not looking at military options" at this early stage.

 

15

4:34 AM - Jul 20, 2019

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The Swedish-owned and British flagged tanker is also no longer under control of crew and hasn't been able to be contacted since being forced into Iranian waters Friday, according to a statement from its owner Stena Bulk.

"Soon after the vessel was approached by unidentified small naval craft and a helicopter during her transit of the Strait of Hormuz in international waters... the vessel suddenly deviated from her passage to Jubail and headed north towards Iran," the company said in statement. 

Iran's IRNA quoted an Iranian maritime official as saying, "There are 18 Indian and five crew members from Russia, Philipines, Latvia and other countries on board of Stena Impero. The captain is Indian, but the tanker is UK-flagged."   

As of Saturday morning Indian government officials have confirmed India is in contact with Tehran to secure the release of the majority Indian crew. 

via Sky News

Meanwhile, the second foreign vessel which was captured Friday - Liberian flagged, UK-owned tanker 'Mesdar' - was reportedly released after being briefly boarded by Iran's military, as we detailed previously. 

UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned Iran of "serious consequences" if its military does not return control of the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, according to Sky News. He said British action will be "robust" but also emphasized "we're not looking at military options" at this early stage.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-07-20/iran-releases-first-footage-detained-british-flagged-oil-tanker

[Butifldrm]

Baghdad Post Saturday, 20 July 2019 03:35 PM

 

After increasing sanctions, Ahmadinejad opposes Khamenei and calls for direct negotiations with America

 

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has asked his country's officials to enter into direct negotiations with the United States, contrary to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's failure to negotiate with Washington after describing the negotiations as "double poison". 
In remarks to the New York Times, Ahmadinejad suggested that the Iranian and US governments discuss a number of differences between the two countries through direct negotiations. 
The former Iranian president said: "Trump (US President) is a businessman, so he is able to calculate the cost benefits and make a decision, and we say to him let us calculate the long-term benefit in terms of cost between our two countries and not be short-sighted." 
Ahmadinejad's call contradicts what Iran confirms Not to enter into any direct negotiations with the United States, especially in light of the growing economic sanctions imposed by Washington.
Relations between Iran and the United States are strained at the diplomatic, economic and even military levels, especially after Tehran has struck down the security of international shipping with Gulf waters and the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to restrict the movement of oil tankers.

Count

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/ar/Story/174700/بعد-تعاظم-العقوبات-نجاد-يعارض-خامنئي-ويدعو-لمفاوضات-مباشرة-مع-أمريكا

[yota691]

US report: Lebanese Hezbollah begins preparations for war with Israel

 

 

 2019/07/20 13:38:06

 

Shafak News / The American daily "Beast" reported that Hezbollah has started its preparations for war with Israel against the background of escalating tension between Iran and the United States in the Gulf.

The website confirmed that Hezbollah had begun to redeploy its troops to the Israeli border, not in Lebanon but in Syria, especially in areas adjacent to the occupied Golan.

The website quoted Hezbollah elements as saying that the party was suffering from US sanctions imposed on it and its ally, Tehran, and was preparing to start fighting when it ordered Iran to do so.

The leader, who called himself Samir, and that is not his real name, because he is not authorized to speak to the media, and under his command 800 fighters at the border between Lebanon and Israel, the US sanctions make Hezbollah ready to act on the Israeli front, The first shot will be fired. "

Samir said that the new war will be different from the previous ones, adding that the positions taken by "Hezbollah" in the part of the Golan under the control of the Syrian government will allow him to open a second front against Israel.

The leader also pointed to Hezbollah's increased combat capabilities in recent years, particularly through its acquisition of anti-air and anti-air missiles and aircraft, as well as the expertise gained by its fighters in Syria.

"Before the outbreak of the Syrian war, Hezbollah wanted to open a second front in the Golan," he said. "The Syrian government considered it a red line," he said. "Now there are no red lines."

The leader acknowledged that the alleged war would inflict enormous destruction on both Israel and Lebanon, but US sanctions make this scenario possible, stressing that if any missile targets Iran, it will be treated as an Israeli.

The site also quoted a member of Hezbollah who fought in Syria, Assir (apparently not his real name), asserting that the fighters returning from Syria since the beginning of the escalation in the Gulf were not retiring but were being transferred to southern Lebanon where they were taking over. New posts.

"There are still some units in Syria, but many have returned to Lebanon or to the Golan," he said.

Asir stressed that the leadership of Hezbollah sees the escalation in the Gulf as a source of a possible new conflict with Israel. "Leaders are talking about a spark in Hormuz, and there may be a spark in Lebanon," he said.

The website quoted three Hezbollah elements as saying that the salaries of the party's fighters had fallen by two-fold due to US sanctions, but they still believed in its military capabilities.

 

[NEPatriotsFan1]

They are out of their collective minds! 

[Pitcher]

Iran, and it’s proxy militia’s like Hezbollah better rethink the war deal.  It won’t end well for them. Israel, Saudi, the USA have used extreme patience with Iran for 40 years. .  If they start a war it will be plenty messy but Iran will be destroyed and so will it’s proxy’s 

Get rid of Iran and the hate filled Mullahs of SA and the ME will once again be a decent place.  

[Butifldrm]

2019/07/19 19:04

• Number of readings 2129
• Section: Video Library

 

 

Tehran publishes a video refutes the American novel about the downing of a plane in the Strait of Hormu

 

 

BAGHDAD / Al-Masala: Iranian official channels broadcast video footage that it said proves that the Iranian aircraft that Washington claimed on Thursday July 18, 2019, dropped, returned to its base intact.

The pictures showed the American destroyer USS Boxer , which US President Donald Trump said destroyed the Iranian aircraft over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards announced earlier on Friday, 19 July 2019, that it will publish pictures taken by the Iranian aircraft marching to the US ship, which Washington confirms that it dropped the Iranian drones .

The Revolutionary Guards said that "the footage taken by our aircraft from the American destroyer is a document we will reveal to the world public opinion to prove that the American allegations about the downing of the Iranian plane are incorrect ."

US President Donald Trump has announced that the American ship "Boxer" destroyed an Iranian aircraft approaching a thousand meters in the Strait of Hormuz, noting that the "Aldron" Iran was a threat to the ship and "was dropped immediately ."

But Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarif denied that Tehran had any information about the loss of a plane in the Gulf region .

Follow the obelisk - agencies

 

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/175130/طهران-تنشر-فيديو-يدحض-الرواية-الأمريكية-بشأن-إسقاط-طائرة-مسيرة-في-مضيق-هرمز

[Pitcher]

3 hours ago, Butifldrm said:

 

New Video Shows IRGC Commandos Fast-Roping To Deck Of Seized Oil Tanker

by Tyler Durden

Sat, 07/20/2019 - 11:48

 

 

update: Earlier Iran released footage of the detained British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, but hours after the first images were revealed, more video was aired on Iranian state TV, this time showing the dramatic IRGC military raid on the vessel.

Iranian special forces troops fast-roped down to the deck via helicopter while IRGC boats circled near the vessel.

 

 

 

 

How easy would that that be to stop.  Deploy a handful of British soldiers on each ship with a few RPG’s and have a few fighter jets at the ready and blow those Iranian Helcopters to hell.  There is no way Britain will allow this to continue. We have backed the snake into a corner and it’s striking back.  Let him go or destroy it.  In this case it’s up to Iran. Strike again and it’s on.  

[ChuckFinley]

Even the old school - Convoy. 

[Pitcher]

Iran will not be allowed to stop the flow of ME oil to the world. That is the red line and Iran has crossed it.  I imagine they have been given a harsh warning.  If it happens again it’s lights out for Iran.  Maybe they want a war because they are doing everything right to start one.  

[ChuckFinley]

13 minutes ago, Pitcher said:

Iran will not be allowed to stop the flow of ME oil to the world. That is the red line and Iran has crossed it.  I imagine they have been given a harsh warning.  If it happens again it’s lights out for Iran.  Maybe they want a war because they are doing everything right to start one.  

and it will be a joint ops. It will be short and ugly. 

[Pitcher]

Totally agree Chuck.  Iran has the entire ME ready to back Britain and USA 

They almost have to or they will be fighting a nuclear Iran in the not to distant future.

[ChuckFinley]

7 minutes ago, Pitcher said:

Totally agree Chuck.  Iran has the entire ME ready to back Britain and USA 

They almost have to or they will be fighting a nuclear Iran in the not to distant future.

I believe I read they are going to start nuclear testing. That should really push people over the edge.  

[Pitcher]

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/42901/Allies-play-hard-to-get-on-US-proposal-to-protect-oil-shipping-lanes
 

Allies play 'hard to get' on US proposal to protect oil shipping lanes

The United States is struggling to win its allies' support for an initiative to heighten surveillance of vital Middle East oil shipping lanes because of fears it will increase tensions with Iran, six sources familiar with the matter said.

Washington proposed on July 9 stepping up efforts to safeguard strategic waters off Iran and Yemen, where it blames Iran and its proxies for tanker attacks. Iran denies the charges.

But with Washington's allies reluctant to commit new weaponry or fighting forces, a senior Pentagon official told Reuters on Thursday that the United States' aim was not to set up a military coalition but to shine a "flashlight" in the region to deter attacks on commercial shipping.

Because of fears of confrontation, any involvement by Washington's allies is likely be limited to naval personnel and equipment already in place - near the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf and the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea, two Gulf sources and a British security source said.

"The Americans want to create an 'alliance of the willing' who confront future attacks," a Western diplomat said. "Nobody wants to be on that confrontational course and part of a US push against Iran."

Addressing such concerns or possible misunderstandings, Kathryn Wheelbarger, one of the most senior policy officials at the Pentagon, told Reuters in an interview that the new initiative was "not about military confrontation."

Under Washington's proposal, the United States would provide coordination for ships and lead surveillance efforts, while allies would patrol nearby waters and escort commercial vessels with their nations' flags.

Iran has said foreign powers should leave securing shipping lanes to Tehran and other countries in the region.

France, which has a naval base in the United Arab Emirates, does not plan to escort ships and views the US plan as counterproductive to easing tensions because Tehran would see it as anti-Iran, a French official said.

The British security source said it was not viable to escort every commercial vessel, a view shared by several other countries.

A senior Western official based in Beijing said there was "no way" China would join a maritime coalition. A South Korean official said Washington had yet to make any official request.

A decision by Japan to join such an initiative would be likely to inflame a divide in Japanese public opinion over sending troops abroad. Japan's military has not fought overseas since World War Two.

"The Americans have been talking to anyone interested about setting something up, mainly looking to Asia as it's of vital importance to their security of (oil) supply and asking for ships, but it's gone a bit quiet," a Gulf official said.

India has deployed two ships in the Gulf to protect Indian-flagged vessels since June 20. Other Asian oil importers are unlikely to have anything but a symbolic presence, such as the involvement of a liaison officer, officials and diplomats said.

"It's just impossible. The Strait is already too crowded," an Asian official said of an escort system in the Strait of Hormuz which is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point.

A second Gulf official said: "We're not going to do anything like that, we are not going to do anything on our own."

Rising tension

Tensions rose further on Thursday after Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had seized a foreign tanker smuggling fuel. A US military commander in the region said the United States would work "aggressively" to ensure free passage of vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Tension has mounted since US President Donald Trump last year quit the 2015 nuclear pact under which Iran agreed to curtail its atomic program in return for relief from economic sanctions crippling its economy.

France, Britain and Germany, which with Russia and China are party to the agreement, have tried to rescue the deal and defuse tensions.

Failure to secure support for the maritime initiative would be a blow to efforts by the United States, and its Sunni Muslim allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to isolate Shiite Iran and Iranian-backed forces in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are already patrolling the coastline off Yemen, where they are leading a coalition battling the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, though the UAE has said it is scaling down its presence there.

Asked what role Riyadh could play in the US initiative, a Saudi military official said it would be the role that the Saudi-led coalition has been playing for the past few years in the Red Sea as part of the war in Yemen, including escorting and securing commercial shipping.

The United States does not want to go it alone.

"There are enough resources in the region now for the job at hand. The Americans want an international stamp on this effort," one of the Gulf sources said. "They (the United States) also don't want to bear the financial burden."

Technical and financial aspects, such as refueling, bunkering and maintenance costs, still need to be ironed out before countries sign up, the source said.

Policing burdens would largely fall on the United States, which has protected shipping lanes in the region for decades with its Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet. It also heads the Combined Maritime Forces, a 33-nation naval alliance that carries out security and counterpiracy operations in the region.

Britain has a base in Oman, and China has a military base in Djibouti, which lies off the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Beijing has had to tread softly in the region because it has close energy ties with both Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Small ships

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi support US sanctions on Iran, which lacks a strong conventional naval fleet but has many speed boats, portable anti-ship missile launchers and mines.

A US State Department official, who asked not to be named, said Bahrain would host a working group meeting on maritime and aviation security in the autumn as part of a follow-up to a global conference in Warsaw in February that gathered some 60 nations to discuss stability in the Middle East.

Gulf states, which are big purchasers of Western arms, have invested more in air and land capabilities than in naval assets, and they have little experience coordinating large naval missions.

The majority of vessels are small patrol craft and corvettes that would struggle on extended missions, said Tom Waldwyn, research associate for The Military Balance at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Wheelbarger, the US Pentagon official, suggested small, quick ships would be helpful. She said several countries has expressed interest in the initiative but did not name them.

[Pitcher]

The US doesn’t have many ships going through the Staits of Hormuz these days. We have our own oil but these other countries that need oil are sitting back while we do all the heavy lifting against Iran.  Cowards 

[markb57]

the US just needs to stand down now. let the other countries deal with their ships being taken.

[Gunnytex]

Zero Tolerance 

Approach a US escorted ship. ?

BOOM. BYE BYE 

[yota691]

Iran: Tanker accidents have not affected our oil exports

 

Iranian Oil Minister Bijen Zanganeh. "Internet"

Arab and international Economy News Baghdad TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's crude exports have so far been unaffected by recent tanker incidents in the Gulf, Iran's oil minister said on Sunday. "Oil tankers and oil exports are one of the issues where we have restrictions, and the United States and its allies have caused us restrictions and we should be careful," the Oil Ministry's information website quoted Zangane as saying. Britain called Iran's seizure of the Gulf's "Stena Empero" carrier on Friday a "hostile act" and refused to explain Tehran had detained the carrier because of its involvement in an accident. Views 20   Date Added 21/07/2019