Iran fired shots at oil tanker near Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Navy says
CBS
The Facts
The US Navy said it thwarted an attempt by Iran to seize two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz early Wednesday. The US Navy reportedly opened fire and Iranian vessels abandoned their mission after the US deployed a guided missile destroyer, leaving the commercial tankers unharmed.
At 1 a.m. local time, the first seizure attempt on a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker was stopped by the USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer. The second, more aggressive attack on the Chevron-managed Richmond Voyager came three hours later, as a separate Iranian ship came within one mile of the crude carrier.
The Spin
Anti-Iran narrative
Thankfully, the US Navy was able to thwart yet another one of Iran’s attempts to illegally seize oil tankers from international waters. Iran sent warships after the two vessels and even fired at them as it continues to defy international law. The threat of Iran is rising to an all-time high, and the Iranian Navy’s efforts to attack oil-carrying vessels are a perfect example. The US Navy will prevent these incidents.
Pro-Iran narrative
Washington continues to provoke tensions with Tehran as it seizes Iranian oil vessels as part of its retaliation against Iran’s nuclear program. In addition to defying international maritime law, the US is also making an already-volatile oil market even more shaky. The US acts like it is above international rules, and that it has a right to take what does not belong to it. The US is the clear aggressor and must respect Iran’s sovereignty.