U.S. Claims Iran Attacked Tankers

“Explosions crippled two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday in what the United States called attacks by Iran, raising alarms about immediate security and potential military conflict in a vital passageway for a third of the world’s petroleum,” the New York Times reports.

“Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that American intelligence agencies had concluded Tehran was behind the disabling of both ships.”

“The most compelling evidence to support Mr. Pompeo’s claim is full-motion video footage taken by a Navy P-8 surveillance plane of an Islamic Revolutionary Guards patrol boat pulling up alongside the Kokuka Courageous, one of the stricken ships, a few hours after the initial explosion, and removing what American analysts believe was a limpet mine.”

Washington Post: “U.S. officials said several nations are consulting about how to respond.”