Iran seizes oil tanker headed for Texas
One AmericaDec 22, 2022
The Facts
Iran's navy on Thursday seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in international waters in the Gulf of Oman, according to the US Navy — the latest in a series of recent incidents in the conflict-prone Gulf waters.
The US Navy identified the oil tanker as the Advantage Sweet and accused Tehran of violating international law, demanding the vessel's immediate release, which it said came from Kuwait and had given Houston, Texas as its destination.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Iranian regime's seizure of yet another oil tanker while passing through international waters, reinforcing its blatant aggression in the region, is further evidence that Washington's policy of appeasement against Tehran has failed. This latest destabilizing incident should be a wake-up call for the US to finally resume seizing Iranian oil and gas shipments.
Establishment-critical narrative
In the incident, the oil tanker collided with an Iranian fishing boat, causing several Iranian crew members to go missing and become injured. Rather than assisting, as required by international maritime law, the tanker attempted to flee. What would the US do if the roles had been reversed? Washington's double standards are limitless.
Metaculus Prediction
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