Summary
Iranian military fast-boats in the Gulf of Oman are preventing two privately owned tug boats from towing away an oil tanker damaged in attacks Thursday, a U.S. official said Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The U.S. official did not say how the United States knew of the reported standoff between the Iranian fast-boats and the tug boats, which were trying to tie up and tow away the Norwegian-owned Front Altair.
Speaking hours after the U.S. military released grainy footage it said showed an Iranian patrol boat removing an "unexploded limpet mine" from one of the tankers, Trump was emphatic.
Iran rejects the U.S. accusations.
Iran has repeatedly warned in the past that it could block the Hormuz Strait in a relatively low-tech, high-impact countermeasure to any attack by the far more powerful United States.
Iran said its navy rescued several dozen crew members from the two vessels, while the U.S. Navy said it had picked up 21 from the Kokuka Courageous.
The United States has also accused Iran over May 12 attacks on four tankers anchored in the Gulf of Oman off the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah.
The U.S. called Thursday for the U.N. Security Council to confront the "clear threat" posed by Iran.
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