Gulf on Edge as Conflicting Accounts of Tanker Attacks Swirl
- U.S. says Iran to blame; Tehran denies involvement in attacks
- Ship’s operator says vessel damaged by projectile, not mine
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The U.S. political and military standoff with Iran hardened as conflicting narratives about a pair of attacks on tankers near the Persian Gulf stoked regional tensions and President Donald Trump vowed that Tehran will not be allowed to close a key oil shipping lane.
With U.S.-Iranian relations already at a low point, American officials released images they said showed that Iran was involved in a mine blast that forced the evacuation of a tanker near the entrance to the Gulf on Thursday. Tehran denied involvement, and the owner of the ship refuted the U.S. assertion that the blast came from a mine, adding to the confusion over what happened and who was responsible.