Continuing to retaliate for Britain’s seizure of a false-flagged Iranian oil super-tanker near Gibraltar July 4, there’s word today that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] intercepted the Panamanian-flagged tanker Riah registered to Dubai. Iran promised to retaliate for its interdicted tanker, unless British authorities released the vessel unconditionally. British officials announced it would return the tanker as long as Iran assures it will not deliver its content to Syria. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today that Iran would continue enriching uranium outside the limits specified in the July 15, 2019 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA] AKA the Iranian Nuke Deal, requiring Iran to limit fissile material to 3.67%, well below weapons grade uranium. President Donald Trump warned Iran that he would not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran.
Making trips for Dubai and Sharjah on the UAE’s west coast, the 58-meter-long Riah lost its tracking data, indicating that someone—like the IRGC—turned off the electronic tracking system. Traveling Saturday evening through the Strait of Hormuz, Riah lost its electronic contact. Data firm Refintiv Cpt. Ranjith Raja told the Associated Press [AP] that the tanker’s data systems had not been shut down in three months, confirming the IRGC interdiction. “That is a red flat,” Raja. “We certainly have suspicious that it was taken,” Raja said about the disappearance of the tanker Riah. “We are monitoring the situation with our international partners,” said an unnamed Dubai official. Noting that the Riah “did not emit a distress call,” the official believes that Iran intercepted the vessel. Khamenei said today that Iran would retaliate for the British seizure of Iranian super-tanker near Gibraltar.
British authorities interdicted the Iranian super-tanker from U.S. intelligence, enforcing sanctions against Iranian oil sales. “God willing, the Islamic Republic and its committed forces will no leave this evil without a surprise,” Khamenei said. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Britain will return the seized super-tanker when Iran guarantees that it will not supply oil to Syria. Whether Iran supplies oil to a third party who, in turn, supplies oil to Syria is anyone’s guess. Khamenei threatened to stop all oil tankers from passing through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, something Trump promised would not happen. Some 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through the Persian Gulf. Blocking the Strait of Hormuz or interdicting ships would be seen as an act of war by Trump. When Iran downed a Global Hawk surveillance drone June 20, Trump showed restraint not retaliating.
Another mishap in the Gulf concerning the U.S. or its allies would no doubt prompt a military response. Khamenei has not backed down from his belligerent rhetoric after Britain seized its super-tanker near Gibraltar. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hinted in a TV interview that Iran was willing to negotiate its ballistic missile program, something surprising. Iran wants nothing short of Trump ending all sanctions and returning to the JCPOA, something that won’t happen on his watch. Zarif worries about the military buildup in the Gulf region, with the U.S. selling $25 billion to the UAE and another $67 billion to Saudi Arabia, Iran’s archenemy. “These are American weaponry that is going into our region ready to explode,” Zarif said. Iran spent $16 billion buying Russia’s S-400 anti-aircraft defense system, also selling the same system to Turkey over U.S. objections.
Zarif talks a good game blaming the U.S. for militarizing the Persian Gulf, when, in fact, Iran purchases whatever weapons it wants from Russia. “So if they [the U.S] want to talk about our missiles, they need first to sop selling all these weapons, including missiles to our region,” Zarif said, knowing Iran has many enemies including Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab States. Zarif knows that Iran’s missile systems are not negotiable to the U.S. or any other country. Giving a visa and meeting at the U.N. on regional issues, Zarif wants to appear the deal-maker. He has zero power or authority to negotiate on behalf of Iran without the Ayatollah’s approval. Only recently Khamenei expressed disgust of Zafi’s Iranian Nuke Deal, saying all along how he didn’t trust it. “Iran’s missiles . . . are absolutely and under no condition negotiable with anyone or any country, period,” said the Iraninan U.N. mission
Trump faces some tough choices if Iran hijacked a UAE tanker in the Persian Gulf. Allied closely with the U.S., the UAE expects to be under the U.S. security umbrella in the Gulf. When the U.S. confirms that Iran interdicted a UAE tanker, Trump will have some tough decisions to make guaranteeing security to commerce in the Persian Gulf. Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal is far more lethal than its aging fleet of old Shah-era U.S. fighter jets and Russian-made Mig-23 floggers. No U.S. official should take Zarif seriously that Iran’s willing to negotiate on its ballistic missiles. When you consider its proxy war with Yemen’s surrogates against Saudi Arabia, Iran continues to sponsor terrorism around the Mideast and North Africa. Khamenei sees the U.S. and the Gulf States as his enemies, working through Zarif to spread any propaganda to advance the Persian Nation’s radical agenda.
