There can't be a leap if there's no faith
Fire and smoke billow from the Norwegian-owned Front Altair tanker, which the Trump administration alleges was attacked by Iran. Photo: ISNA via AFP/Getty Images The Trump administration wasted little time in alleging that Iran was behind the Thursday-morning attacks that left two tankers ablaze in the Gulf of Oman, dozens of crew members in need of rescue, and the stability of oil transport in the Persian Gulf in question.
Oddly, the video Washington released does appear to show men in a type of boat used by Iran removing an object that could be a mine from the side of one of the tankers, but that tanker’s owner says it appears to have been hit by a “flying object,” not a mine. Yesterday, the internet was full of Iran experts and defense wonks pointing out that Iran is fully capable of blowing up oil tankers, that the nation and its proxies have done far worse and would no doubt do so again.
The cautious responses coming from the European Union, Japan, Norway, and elsewhere reflect a shared concern that a spiral of attacks and allegations will lead to a full-blown war in the Gulf, or even something lesser but still profoundly damaging to the global economy, and perhaps unleash a new round of extremist violence outside the region.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Corbyn questions Iran accusationsThe leader of Britain's main opposition party has questioned whether the go...
Read more »
British opposition leader questions Iran accusationsThe leader of Britain's main opposition party has questioned whether the go...
Read more »
Escalating tensions put U.S. and Iran on collision course, experts fearIran and the U.S. have sent mixed messages at different moments, but neither side appears ready to make major concessions in the showdown.
Read more »
U.S. blames Iran for tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman, Iran rejects assertionU.S. blames Iran for attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, Iran rejects assertion by LisaBarrington lesleywroughton
Read more »
UN chief pushes for probe of Gulf tanker attacksAfter the United States accused Iran of carrying out the attacks and Tehran rejected the accusations, the UN chief suggested that an independent entity could step in to verify the facts.
Read more »