A file photo shows an Iranian oil tanker belonging to the National Iranian Tanker Company. (Photo: Press TV)
'Act of Piracy': Iran Claims It Thwarted US Attempt to Steal Oil in Gulf of Oman
U.S. forces reportedly "seized an Iranian oil tanker" and "transferred its oil to another tanker" before Iran's Navy was able to take control of the vessel.
Iranian forces reportedly foiled an attempt by the United States Navy to capture a tanker in the Gulf of Oman and seize its oil, an alleged ploy that Iran's Press TV characterized as an "abortive act of piracy."
Without specifying when the events took place, Iran's IRNA news agency reported Wednesday that the U.S. confiscated "an Iranian oil tanker in the Sea of Oman, transferred its oil to another tanker, and [moved] the tanker to an unknown place."
In response, according to IRNA, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces carried out a "heliborne operation" and "took control of the tanker."
"Then the American forces pursued the tanker by helicopters and warships but failed to capture it," the outlet reported. "The tanker is now in Iranian waters."
On Wednesday morning, Iranian media outlets released video footage purporting to show glimpses of the scene, which the U.S. claims did not take place as described.
The latest reported confrontation is one of several tense incidents that have occurred in or near the Persian Gulf in recent years, repeatedly pushing the two nations to the brink of war during the Trump administration.
Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem noted Wednesday that there appears to be "a pattern" of confrontations in the region that began after former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear accord in 2018.
There were "tankers that were set on fire, there were bombs on tankers, there were attempts to seize tankers--so this is not new, it's just escalating," Hashem said.
The U.S., Iran, and European nations are currently in negotiations to resume long-stalled nuclear talks, but the Biden administration is refusing to lift punitive sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy and hindered the nation's ability to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Iran has demanded a guarantee of sanctions relief as a condition for restarting nuclear negotiations.
"Recent suggestions that the U.S. should move on from diplomacy to a 'Plan B,' while hinting at the possibility of military strikes, are deeply concerning," a coalition of nearly 50 groups wrote in a letter to Biden on Tuesday. "Doubling down on the failed path of mutual pressure and recrimination will harm U.S. and regional security, weaken global nonproliferation efforts, undercut vital administration priorities like defeating Covid-19 across the globe, and risk a disastrous war."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Iranian forces reportedly foiled an attempt by the United States Navy to capture a tanker in the Gulf of Oman and seize its oil, an alleged ploy that Iran's Press TV characterized as an "abortive act of piracy."
Without specifying when the events took place, Iran's IRNA news agency reported Wednesday that the U.S. confiscated "an Iranian oil tanker in the Sea of Oman, transferred its oil to another tanker, and [moved] the tanker to an unknown place."
In response, according to IRNA, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces carried out a "heliborne operation" and "took control of the tanker."
"Then the American forces pursued the tanker by helicopters and warships but failed to capture it," the outlet reported. "The tanker is now in Iranian waters."
On Wednesday morning, Iranian media outlets released video footage purporting to show glimpses of the scene, which the U.S. claims did not take place as described.
The latest reported confrontation is one of several tense incidents that have occurred in or near the Persian Gulf in recent years, repeatedly pushing the two nations to the brink of war during the Trump administration.
Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem noted Wednesday that there appears to be "a pattern" of confrontations in the region that began after former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear accord in 2018.
There were "tankers that were set on fire, there were bombs on tankers, there were attempts to seize tankers--so this is not new, it's just escalating," Hashem said.
The U.S., Iran, and European nations are currently in negotiations to resume long-stalled nuclear talks, but the Biden administration is refusing to lift punitive sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy and hindered the nation's ability to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Iran has demanded a guarantee of sanctions relief as a condition for restarting nuclear negotiations.
"Recent suggestions that the U.S. should move on from diplomacy to a 'Plan B,' while hinting at the possibility of military strikes, are deeply concerning," a coalition of nearly 50 groups wrote in a letter to Biden on Tuesday. "Doubling down on the failed path of mutual pressure and recrimination will harm U.S. and regional security, weaken global nonproliferation efforts, undercut vital administration priorities like defeating Covid-19 across the globe, and risk a disastrous war."
Iranian forces reportedly foiled an attempt by the United States Navy to capture a tanker in the Gulf of Oman and seize its oil, an alleged ploy that Iran's Press TV characterized as an "abortive act of piracy."
Without specifying when the events took place, Iran's IRNA news agency reported Wednesday that the U.S. confiscated "an Iranian oil tanker in the Sea of Oman, transferred its oil to another tanker, and [moved] the tanker to an unknown place."
In response, according to IRNA, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces carried out a "heliborne operation" and "took control of the tanker."
"Then the American forces pursued the tanker by helicopters and warships but failed to capture it," the outlet reported. "The tanker is now in Iranian waters."
On Wednesday morning, Iranian media outlets released video footage purporting to show glimpses of the scene, which the U.S. claims did not take place as described.
The latest reported confrontation is one of several tense incidents that have occurred in or near the Persian Gulf in recent years, repeatedly pushing the two nations to the brink of war during the Trump administration.
Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem noted Wednesday that there appears to be "a pattern" of confrontations in the region that began after former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear accord in 2018.
There were "tankers that were set on fire, there were bombs on tankers, there were attempts to seize tankers--so this is not new, it's just escalating," Hashem said.
The U.S., Iran, and European nations are currently in negotiations to resume long-stalled nuclear talks, but the Biden administration is refusing to lift punitive sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy and hindered the nation's ability to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Iran has demanded a guarantee of sanctions relief as a condition for restarting nuclear negotiations.
"Recent suggestions that the U.S. should move on from diplomacy to a 'Plan B,' while hinting at the possibility of military strikes, are deeply concerning," a coalition of nearly 50 groups wrote in a letter to Biden on Tuesday. "Doubling down on the failed path of mutual pressure and recrimination will harm U.S. and regional security, weaken global nonproliferation efforts, undercut vital administration priorities like defeating Covid-19 across the globe, and risk a disastrous war."