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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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Not to be confused with the May 2019 Gulf of Oman incident.
June 2019 Gulf of Oman incident
Kokuka Courageous after the fire, with damage shown on the left and the alleged unexploded limpet mine still attached on the right
DateJune 13, 2019 (2019-06-13)
LocationGulf of Oman, Indian Ocean
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, and supported by Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom; denied by Iran)[3][4][5]
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 attacked, allegedly with limpet mines or flying objects, causing fire damage to both ships. American and Iranian military personnel responded to the attacks and were involved in rescuing crew members from the ships. The attacks took place a month after the similar May 2019 Gulf of Oman incident and on the same day that Ayatollah Khamenei met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe in Iran. Abe was acting as an intermediary between American President Donald Trump and Khamenei.[6][7]

Amid heightened tension between Iran and the United States, the United States blamed Iran for the attacks. Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom supported the United States' accusation[4], while the Japan has demanded more proof of Iran's culpability.[8] Iran denied the accusation, blaming the United States for spreading disinformation and warmongering.[7]

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[9] and starting a "maximum-pressure campaign" on Iran[10][11]. 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.[12][13] Iran's oil production has hit a historic low as a result of sanctions; yet Saudi Arabia maintained supplies, leaving prices reasonably stable.[14] U.S. President Donald Trump offered to hold talks with Iran regarding their nuclear program and said he was willing to make a deal to remove sanctions and help fix their economy. However, he did not rule out the possibility of a military conflict with Iran.[15] Iran stated that the United States must first return to the nuclear deal before starting any new negotiations.[16]

During the Iran–Iraq War, Iraq started a "Tanker War" in the Persian Gulf in 1981 and Iran started to fight back in 1984.[17][18] In 1987 the U.S. launched Operation Earnest Will to protect Kuwaiti tankers.[19] 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.[20][21]

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".[22] US intelligence blamed the attacks on Iran, which increased tensions.[23]

The two oil tankers damaged in this incident were Front Altair, owned by a Norwegian company, and the Japan-based 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.[24][25]

The incident occurred during a two day diplomatic visit by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to Iran.[26] 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.[7][27]

Incident

The fire onboard tanker Front Altair being extinguished by an Iranian navy boat
U.S. Navy sailors provide aid to the crew of Kokuka Courageous onboard USS Bainbridge
File:Rescued crew of Front Altair Tanker in Jask port.jpg
Crew of Front Altair, rescued by Iranian navy and taken to Jask port

On 13 June 2019 Front Altair and Kokuka Courageous were both transiting the Gulf of Oman heading southeast in international waters. According to a unsubstantiated claim by a U.S. official, while sailing through the Gulf, several Iranian vessels were observed by an American MQ-9 Reaper drone to approach the vicinity of the two merchant ships.[28] A surface to air missile was fired at the American drone, which missed its target.[28] According to the U.S. military, the missile was a modified SA-7 and was fired from Iran's mainland.[29] At some point subsequent to the incident with the drone, explosions occurred on both Front Altair and Kokuka Courageous. CPC Corporation, which was contracting Front Altair, reported that it may have been hit by a torpedo at around 04:00 GMT on June 13.[30][27] The hull of Kokuka Courageous was reportedly breached above the waterline on the starboard side.[31] 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).[32]

Both ships caught fire, but Frontline and Kokuka Sangyo (affiliated to Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company), the respective owners of the two vessels, reported that all crew members from both ships had successfully evacuated.[7] Iranian News Agency (IRNA) initially reported that Front Altair had sunk, but the statement was later denied by a Frontline spokesman.[33] Other reports suggested that the attacks may have involved limpet mines.[6][34] Iran reported that they had rescued all 44 crew members of both vessels and taken them to Iran.[34] However, the U.S. Navy responded to assist both vessels after the attack and reported having rescued some of the crew.[6][34] A Dutch vessel en route to Dubai rescued 21 people, mostly Filipinos, from Kokuka Courageous. This was confirmed by the Dutch shipping company Acta Marine. [35] The crew[clarification needed] 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".[citation needed] The 23 crew of Front Altair were first rescued by a nearby South Korean vessel, Hyundai Dubai. The South Korean Hyundai Merchant Marine Co confirmed the rescue and stated that the vessel later handed over the rescued crew members to an Iranian rescue boat.[36][37] There are reports that shortly after the evacuation of the crews the ships that rescued them were surrounded by military Iranian boats. It was demanded to hand over the mariners into their custody. One of the civilian rescue ships eventually complied with this request.[38]

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.[39][40] 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.[41][42] Neither oil tanker was sunk in the attack, despite significant damage.[6] The U.S. Navy later sent another destroyer USS Mason to the location of the incident.[43]

After the incident, Kokuka Courageous was towed to the port of Kalba in the United Arab Emirates. Dutch firm Boskalis was appointed to salvage both Kokuka Courageous and Front Altair.[44]

On 15 June the crew of Front Altair arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on an Iran Air flight from Bandar Abbas, Iran.[45] Robert Hvide Macleod, CEO of Frontline Management said "Everyone has been very well cared for in Iran, and everyone is in good shape".[46]

Alleged responsibility

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".[47] The New York Times reported that experts believe that Iran would carry out such an attack to hit-back at the United States while maintaining enough ambiguity to avoid a direct counterattack.[48] The Iranian government, in response, denied any and all responsibility and criticized the accusation.[5][49] Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan remarked that the U.S. wanted to build an "international consensus" by declassifying and releasing intelligence.[50]

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 at 4.10pm local time.[32][51] The patrol boat shown in the video matched the model and dimensions of patrol boats used by the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with an identical chevron pattern and center console.[52][53] Iranian officials denied the U.S. accusations as "baseless".[54] Responding to the video, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas remarked that "to make a final assessment, this is not enough for me".[55]

On June 14, the head of the company that owns Kokuka Courageous, Yutaka Katada, stated that the crew members "are saying that they were hit by a flying object. They saw it with their own eyes."[32][56] Katada stated that he believed the incident could not have been a torpedo attack, because the ship was hit above the waterline, but also clarified that his beliefs were "just an assumption or a guess."[57][58] Also on June 14, the Tasnim News Agency reported that Hormozgan Province's port director stated that early investigations indicated that the fires broke out due to technical reasons and that there is no proof that an external object hit either ship.[59]

Trita Parsi, head of the National Iranian American Council urged caution when assigning blame, citing a lack of evidence.[60]

Analyst François Heisbourg stated “There’s a lot of suspicion in Europe about American motives. The maritime milieu is especially susceptible to manipulation — remember the Gulf of Tonkin.”[61] Analyst Anthony Cordesman raised "the possibility that ISIS (Daesh) carried out the attack as trigger to turn two enemies — the United States and Iran — against each other. Or you're watching Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates create an incident that they could then use to increase the pressure on Iran."[62]

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."[39] He described the attacks as a move by "the B-team"[c] to sabotage diplomacy.[63] Iran's United Nations mission issued a statement wherein it called on the United States and its regional allies to "put an end to mischievous plots and false flag operations in the region."[64]

An example Iranian limpet mine, seen in 2015.

U.S. officials have blamed the attacks on Iran,[39][65] with United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stating that the U.S. "would defend its forces and interests in the region".[39] During an interview with Fox News, Trump further asserted the blame on Iran, calling the country "a nation of terror".[66] Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir agreed with Pompeo, saying "Iran has a history of doing this."[67] 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 alleged Iran's actions "deeply unwise".[4] 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".[68]

Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders called for the incident to be "fully investigated" while adding that a war with Iran "would be an unmitigated disaster for the United States, Iran, the region and the world.”[69] Fellow senator and presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren echoed Sanders saying she was “very concerned about a slide towards war with Iran”.[70]

The United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office released a statement that "It is almost certain that a branch of the Iranian military - the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - attacked the two tankers on 13 June. No other state or non-state actor could plausibly have been responsible."[71] Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said "our starting point is obviously to believe our U.S. allies" and the UK "will be making our own assessment soberly and carefully".[72] The Foreign office also accused Iran of orchestrating the May 2019 Gulf of Oman incident, stating "The Emirati-led investigation of the 12 May attack on four oil tankers near the port of Fujairah concluded that it was conducted by a sophisticated state actor. We are confident that Iran bears responsibility for that attack."[73] However, this position was challenged by opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, who questioned the existence of "credible evidence".[74]

The German government urged “a spiral of escalation must be avoided”.[61]

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.[75] 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".[76]

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.[34] As a result of the incident, shipping through the Strait has slowed, due to concerns of further damage.[77]

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.[78] After meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres at UN headquarters in New York on June 14, Aboul Gheit also stated “We believe that responsibilities need to be clearly defined..The facts will be revealed, I am sure, it’s only a matter of time.” Amid US accusations of Iran's involvement in the attack, Abuol Gheit said "My call to my Iranian — and I call them Iranian brothers: Be careful and reverse course because you’re pushing everybody towards a confrontation that no one would be safe if it happens."[73]

The United Nations Security Council met on June 13 in a closed door meeting regarding the incident.[79][needs context]

On June 14, 2019 Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide while expressing concern said "On the Norwegian side, we await the final results of the investigation" and "We encourage all actors to show restraint and avoid actions that contribute to further escalation" The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes the attacks increase the tension in the area. The Norwegian Maritime Directorate has gone out to warn five Norwegian ships that are in the Gulf of Oman.[46]

On June 15, 2019, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe "resolutely denounced" the attacks on both ships, though he did not point to any one country. His statement came following a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.[80]

Economic

Following a month-long decrease, the price of oil initially increased by as high as 4% after the incident, then settled to an increase of 2%.[77][81][needs context]

The price of insurance for cargo ships has also risen in response to the event, which could increase oil prices.[77]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Kokuka Courageous was flagged in Panama
  2. ^ The Front Altair was flagged in the Marshall Islands[1]
  3. ^ Term coined by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to refer to John R. Bolton, Mohammad bin Salman, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Benjamin Netanyahu

References

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  2. ^ a b "Gulf of Oman tankers attacked: Live updates". www.cnn.com. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  3. ^ Washington, Reuters (June 14, 2019). "Saudi Arabia agrees Iran was behind tanker attacks, says Adel al-Jubeir". Reuters. Al-Arabiya. Reuters - Al-Arabiya. Retrieved June 14, 2019. {{cite news}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ a b c "Saudis, UK agree that Iran behind attacks, Iran denies involvement". The Jerusalem Post. June 14, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "U.S. blames Iran for tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman, Iran rejects assertion". Reuters. June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
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  7. ^ 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.
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  51. ^ US releases video it says shows Iran's military recovering mine
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  61. ^ a b Distrusting Both Iran and U.S., Europe Urges ‘Maximum Restraint’
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  64. ^ ‘MISCHIEVOUS PLOT’: Iran accuses the US of LYING about the ‘suspicious’ attack on American-linked oil tanker and denies ordering ‘torpedo’ assault
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  69. ^ Sanders Warns Trump That War With Iran Would Be a ‘Disaster’
  70. ^ Warren worried about ‘slide towards war with Iran’, says Trump needs to ‘come to Congress’ before taking military action
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External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to June 2019 Gulf of Oman incident.
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