Why Iran was likely behind the tanker attack – and why it won’t lead to war

‘The attacks happened in Iranian waters. Will the Iranians accept the fact they have no full control over their own waters?’

Borzou Daragahi
International Correspondent
Friday 14 June 2019 19:23 BST
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Mike Pompeo says US 'fundamentally do not seek a war with Iran' - even as tensions escalate
Mike Pompeo says US 'fundamentally do not seek a war with Iran' - even as tensions escalate

Hours after the stunning attacks on two supertankers heading out of the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, the US military released grainy video purporting to show members of Iran’s naval forces removing an object they described as a mine from the hull one of the ships.

President Donald Trump, speaking on Fox News on Friday morning, claimed the video was proof Iran was behind the attacks. “Iran did do it and you know they did it because you saw the boat,” Mr Trump said on Fox and Friends during an appearance that coincided with his 73rd birthday. “I guess they didn’t know that we have things that we could detect in the dark.”

The video, which showed an event that reportedly took place in broad daylight at four in the afternoon, proved nothing. And if the Iranians had managed to attach an explosive device to the side of the boat it would raise almost as many disturbing questions as if it were a “false flag” operation meant to lure the US into a war.

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