Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
The plight of a “mystery” UAE tanker that’s gone missing in the Persian Gulf now threatens to again send tensions with Iran soaring. Its location transmission signal was turned off Sunday as it drifted toward Iranian waters and it hasn’t been heard from since, with even United Arab Emirates officials staying silent about it. The AP reports:
Tracking data shows an oil tanker based in the United Arab Emirates traveling through the Strait of Hormuz drifted off into Iranian waters and stopped transmitting its location over two days ago, raising concerns Tuesday about its status amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S.
The report details that the Riah, a 58-meter oil tanker which operates frequently in the region, switched off its transponder for the first time in three months after 11pm on Saturday, based on tracking data.
File image: A fishing boat speeds past an oil tanker in the distance in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Source: AP
As of Monday “red flags” were raised as US officials began inquiring of the Riah’s status. CNN’s Pentagon correspondent Barbarra Starr had this to say based on intelligence sources: “US intel increasingly believes UAE tanker MT RIAH forced into Iranian waters over the weekend by #IRGC naval forces. UAE isn’t talking.”
However, this could be another case of hawkish US intelligence and defense officials hyping a false threat. Starr continued based on her source: “Some Gulf sources say ship simply broke down/towed by Iran. US says though no contact with crew. Last location Qesham Island.”
#UPDATE: This is the last known position of the UAE (Panama flagged) oil products tanker in Iranian waters near Iran’s Qeshm island 44 hours ago. CNN’s @barbarastarrcnn reports US intel belives IRGC Navy may have forced the vessel into Iranian waters, no contact with crew. pic.twitter.com/GRHTt6bzi9
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) July 15, 2019
Following the UK’s controversial and aggressive move to seize a tanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iranian oil of Gibraltar earlier this month, Tehran’s military has threatened to in turn intercept UK vessels.
This also comes after repeat pledges over the past year by Iran’s leaders following a US sanctions campaign that if Iran is blocked from exporting its oil out of the gulf then no country would be able to traverse the vital oil shipping lanes either.
developing…
It probably is related to recent changes in some of UAE policies. They aren’t very vocal now and even -uncharacteristically- didn’t blame Iran for the “saboutage”, saying there’s no evidence to blame anyone. Perhaps this new drivel is designed to force them into saying something.
However, if that was the case, it backfired: Now UAE denies loss of any tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the mentioned tanker neither belongs to nor operates for them and it didn’t transmit distress signals.
IMO this new scenario is designed to divert attention from the hole UK dug for itself. I’m sure the story will change in the coming days or even hours, like the heroic act of HMS Montrose confronting an armada of attacking IRGC speedboats, changing into 5 hostile boats and again changing into 3 passing boat.
What is this new trend of “tracking” vessels and airplanes from a chair? In the age of “highly likely” the old-fashioned field work is no longer good enough?
By the way, the correct name is “Qeshm” (or Gheshm) island.
They say the island has an IRGC base like it’s something unique and sinister. IRGC and Iranian navy have bases in all Iranian islands, let alone Qeshm which is the largest one.
Nice comment, thanks..
BREAKING NEWS – https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-07-16/iran-claims-it-rescued-missing-uae-tanker-after-us-officials-said-irgc-forced-it
All vessels has transponders and normally be found incl. pictures at the moving world map. Its by satelite and no chair.
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:56.0/centery:26.5/zoom:10
USA will retaliate with extreme military ferocity to this breach in ethical behavior. If Iran dared do anything against these tankers, game over for the shia terrorists
small Baby Zionist jew slave….. gotr your asses handed to u in Vietnam…..in Afghanistan…….to scared to attack SAA and hezbollah in syria…..got your asses majorly kicked in Korea…..in Somalia……. and now u wanna mess with persia…
here is my Question 4 u….
how does it taste…jewish cum after all that jew cock sucking???? LOLOLOLOL
lol vietnam was an extreme military defeat for Viet Cong/NVA. US Army ONLY left because of politics at home! US Military took only 50,000 casualties in Vietnam but killed 2,000,000 NVA/Viet Cong fighters in 12 years
Bye bye moron create another account. I have blocked you. This is not a website for Zionist scums.
He’s just another TROLL.
USA lost Vietnam war..and the image of that war..is Jane Fonda with Charlie and US fleeing from the US embasy roof!…thousands of US aircraft were shot down by Mig 21 and SAM missile!..total humilliation
Hey Rhodium 10. That is a laugher and a half. You are too funny. Thousands of aircraft shot down by Mig 21s. Hell if a North Vietnamese pilot (did they even have any) flew past the beach he got lost and couldn’t find land again. And most of our aircraft losses were choppers shot down by ground fire (like AK-47s) while picking up wounded. In TWO trips there I NEVER saw a MIG of any sort. The first time near Danang as a US Marine and the second time aboard a US Navy ship off of Haiphong Harbor. We could see the lights at night. So go back to your Russian TROLL house and tell them you got caught by a dumb American. We aren’t ALL like Donnie Boy Rump.
You can search list of US losses in Vietnam!..thousands of fighterjets…of course most of them by SAM missile…but many of them as consecuence of MIG 21 dogfights!…
And what was the primary aircraft we were flying there? And you got your information from where??? Oh some old bar girl in Hanoi? Or was it from the serial draft dodger Cadet Bone Spurs?
This is world record that how many wars US and allies have fought all they have lost.
Also in Korea, US Military took 30,000 casualties but killed 500,000 chinese troops and 1,000,000 north korean troops. Another major US victory but ONLY reason US left North Korea was because of pressure of politics at home
tell us….jew slave…..how does jew cum taste???
lololol…does your mama know u suck jew cock???
if u really are an american….this is how fucking stupid u americans are
Israel atatcked liberty…..Israel killed jfk………Israel did 9-11…..biggest spy in us history..israeli Jonathan pollard……epstein israeli fucking YOUR american Kids…..
all in all… u americans are the most pathetic ridiculous humans on earth
jew cock sucking individuals
lol
extreme antisemitism at its best
see thats my Point u americans r soooo fucking ridiculous stupid….didnt go to School dude….here is some history lesson for my american imbecile
95% of all jews 2019 on planet earth are khasarians not semites….
u stupid american…go back to School…oops but u aint got any worth mentioning in the states…..seriously stupid….brainless jew cocking sucking
so u feel happy as american when jew epstein and clinton and trump are fucking YOUR american KIDS=??????? give me an answer… does that make u feel good and happy????? u are a fucking disgrace
i want an answer……how do u feel when jew epstein and his pals are fucking hundreds of 10 years old up the ass???????????????????
Show your character you discracefull human beiing……sick truly sick your Nation..a a nation of paedophiles…….
If Iran really did made an entire tanker disappear into thin air, then the US should be very worried because its fleet might also disappear. And Israel should stop worrying about a possible Iranian nuclear program and start worrying about Iran’s cloaking device.
yeah you’ll be joking when tomahawks come raining down on the mullahs in shia terroristan of iran!
dont u know..plain stupid or what.. on 9-11 DANCING ISRAELIS ?????????
so u feel good About the 3 dancing Israelis filming the attacks on the world trade Centers..giving “high fives” and yelling “yesssss”
u Folks are fucking pathetic stupid
seriously ..dont u know….it was even on fox News…CNN…nbc etc…. u can still find it on Internet….
Israelis dancing and giving high fives and cheering the attacks…and u jew cocksucker are defending those that attacked u…..
man o man u sure sucked some Major jew cock. thats the end of our conversation….u r ridiculous,stupid,pathetic imbecile
just 4 u….START LEARNING..and become a MAN https://youtu.be/fOiCMMMeXE8
Damn. Those look just like the meth heads I saw last night on the corner trying to score.
and here the fucking Israelis on israeli national TV saying proudly what they did u r sooooooo stupid dude… LEARN
https://youtu.be/tRfhUezbKLw
and another 1 ..danicng Israelis on 9-11 https://youtu.be/UG-dDuLbhWM
and again……prooofffffff alllllll over……if u dont accept the truth…..u r either a traitor u jew cock sucker https://youtu.be/NFKDeNEq9Zk
Get yourself an education before you do yourself damage. The questions to ask yourself are: which countries are the main sponsors of terrorism, and which countries have initiated the most illegal military and paramilitary interventions in the past 20 years? Iran’s name will not appear in the top 10 list.
Then ask yourself when the last time the US was able to wage a war and win? And what the consequences to “raining” tomahawks on Iran will be to the US.
If you are sitting in Tel Aviv you probably don’t care about the consequences to America.
what do you care
USA and you can nto say anything about “ethical behavior” my friend. In fact, this phrase does not exist in CIA-Pentagon dictionaries, and much less in USA politician, “WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCT>ION.”
Well the torpedoes and sea mines stories didn’t work as false flags to start a war with Iran. So now making a whole tanker disappear is the next thing.
Fuck US and EU move forward save your national security and national interests. Economic Sanctions are economic terrorisms, which threatens national security of Iran. Iran has full right to destroy all pirators enemies tankers and vessels in international water. This is immoral that pirates freely operate in international water.