Boom. Another false flag insinuation by an eye witness. Trump administration providing ‘false’ information about Gulf of Oman attack, says Japanese tanker owner

[spin_dry]

The owner of the Japanese tanker attacked on Thursday said US reports have provided “false” information about what happened in the Gulf of Oman.

The ship operator said “flying objects” that may have been bullets were the cause of damage to the vessel, rather than mines used by Iranian forces, as the US has suggested.

Yutaka Katada, chief executive of the Japanese company operating the ship called Kokuka Courageous, one of two vessels attacked near the Strait of Hormuzon Thursday, said the damage could not have been caused by mines or torpedos that are shot underwater, since the damage was reportedly above the ship’s waterline.

“It seems that something flew towards them. That created the hole, is the report I’ve received,” Mr Katada said at a press conference in Tokyo on Friday, the Financial Times reported.

Donald Trump’s administration has meanwhile insisted the attacks were carried out by Iran, which has denied having any involvement in either of the two incidents.

The US released video shortly after that it said showed Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials removing what was likely an unexploded limpet mine from the Kokuka Courageous. The US also said the ship was abandoned after an “initial explosion.”

The White House has singled out the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in recent months under Mr Trump, taking the rare step of classifying a foreign government entity as a terror group.

The Kokuka Courageous and another Norwegian-operated vessel were ablaze for hours in the Gulf on Thursday. The owner's of the other vessel, the Front Altair, have not yet provided an explanation of what they believe to be the cause of the damage.

The entire 21-person crew were evacuated the Kokuka Courageous. Sailors reported seeing the “flying objects” from the vessel before the incident occurred, according to Katada.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

 

 

 

Edited June 14, 2019 by spin_dry

[Zambroski]

Bullets caused that and they saw them flying in the sky first?  

This might not add up.  And that’s just the part of this story I laughed at first!  

 

[spin_dry]

Just now, Zambroski said:

Bullets caused that and they saw them flying in the sky first?  

This might not add up.  And that’s just the part of this story I laughed at first!  

 

Worshiping at the trump pulpit. 

[Zambroski]

Just now, spin_dry said:

Worshiping at the trump pulpit. 

Nope.  But not jumping on every story that is a “false flag”narrative either because I’m not an ignorant America hater with a raging case of TDS complicated by decades of syphilis.

 

[revkevsdi]

6 minutes ago, spin_dry said:

Worshiping at the trump pulpit. 

Like every dumb as fuck Trumpster. 

[Anler]

Let's just invade Iran already. Why do we need a reason?

[revkevsdi]

2 minutes ago, Zambroski said:

Nope.  But not jumping on every story that is a “false flag”narrative either because I’m not an ignorant America hater with a raging case of TDS complicated by decades of syphilis.

 

But you are a ignorant American with a raging case of TDS complicated by decades of syphilis.  So you are close. 

Trump derangement syndrome is really when people are dumb enough to believe everything Trump says even though common sense would tell them he’s lying again 

[revkevsdi]

Just now, Anler said:

Let's just invade Iran already. Why do we need a reason?

Sign up, sign your kids up. Get on a boat and get er done. 

[Zambroski]

3 minutes ago, revkevsdi said:

Like every dumb as fuck Trumpster. 

You and Spinner....AGAINST THE WORLD!!

What a smart match!  

Just now, revkevsdi said:

But you are a ignorant American with a raging case of TDS complicated by decades of syphilis.  So you are close. 

Trump derangement syndrome is really when people are dumb enough to believe everything Trump says even though common sense would tell them he’s lying again 

You sound upset my dear little BarbieHands. Why so upset?

[Snake]

Is this the RT story?

Why no link Dr Phil?

[revkevsdi]

7 minutes ago, Zambroski said:

You and Spinner....AGAINST THE WORLD!!

What a smart match!  

You sound upset my dear little BarbieHands. Why so upset?

Again with the Barbie hands. Poor stupid zambo still believes lying Dave.  Did you forget the photo that hayseed dumpy posted of his stubby little fingers barely able to hold a glass?  

You should go back to calling me timeshare because I share ownership with a boat.       

 

 

 

 

I forgot you don’t own any part of a boat. 

Sad. 

Edited June 14, 2019 by revkevsdi

[Zambroski]

6 minutes ago, revkevsdi said:

Again with the Barbie hands. Poor stupid zambo still believes lying Dave.  Did you forget the photo that hayseed dumpy posted of his stubby little fingers barely able to hold a glass?  

You should go back to calling me timeshare because I share ownership with a boat.       

 

 

 

 

I forgot you don’t own any part of a boat. 

Sad. 

I never thought I could top the “BetaRev” name you were given by @xtralettucetomatoe580 or @DUMPY.  I mean, that was pretty good and really insulting but, I powered through with “BarbieHands” and wow!!!!  You just hate me for it!!!!!!

SUCCESS!!!  I’m used to it though....sbyl.

 

[revkevsdi]

4 minutes ago, Zambroski said:

I never thought I could top the “BetaRev” name you were given by @xtralettucetomatoe580 or @DUMPY.  I mean, that was pretty good and really insulting but, I powered through with “BarbieHands” and wow!!!!  You just hate me for it!!!!!!

SUCCESS!!!  I’m used to it though....sbyl.

 

Nope you did a great job as always. 

Far off the mark and dumb as shit. 

Beta Rev?  Never heard of them calling me that. It’s a bit outdated but accurate.  I use to know a fair bit about revs. 

[Zambroski]

3 minutes ago, revkevsdi said:

Nope you did a great job as always. 

(Lots of crying remarks here)

Thank you.  That’s how I live!

[steve from amherst]

Then why were the Iranians removing an unexploded "mine"

[Zambroski]

Just now, steve from amherst said:

Then why were the Iranians removing an unexploded "mine"

A mine that they were familiar enough with to just roll up on and remove on the sea?  

I believe this is the work of one of many of their little factions that they trained and armed for terror but lost control over due to the business in which they are engaged.  Some retards rolled up in an inflatable at night and stuck them on the boats.  I’m not sure I see Iran “proper” doing something so stupid....or half assed.

[Woodtick]

7 minutes ago, Zambroski said:

A mine that they were familiar enough with to just roll up on and remove on the sea?  

I believe this is the work of one of many of their little factions that they trained and armed for terror but lost control over due to the business in which they are engaged.  Some retards rolled up in an inflatable at night and stuck them on the boats.  I’m not sure I see Iran “proper” doing something so stupid....or half assed.

That been my look on it the entire time.16’ zodiac with a 25hp 4 stroke  can slip in and out at night. If it was professionals,the blast would have been directed below the water line. No military was behind this. It’s not very hard to sink a unarmed ship.

[Woodtick]

18 minutes ago, steve from amherst said:

Then why were the Iranians removing an unexploded "mine"

Propaganda. That’s not how anyone removes a real bomb.

[spin_dry]

Iranian frogs don’t use zodiacs. Sooooo. Ya know. Bomb the mother fuckers. 

[Ez ryder]

1 hour ago, spin_dry said:

Worshiping at the trump pulpit. 

or coukd it be the owner of the shop knows he won't get insurance for his rout if it is thought to have mines planted ? 

Lloyds of London won't touch that shit with a 10 foot poll 

[revkevsdi]

1 hour ago, Zambroski said:

Thank you.  That’s how I live!

Poor sad Zambo. Has to change my comments so he won’t cry.  

 

 

[Zambroski]

4 minutes ago, revkevsdi said:

Poor sad Zambo. Has to change my comments so he won’t cry.  

 

 

It was for humor.  But you cried anyway.

[revkevsdi]

Just now, Zambroski said:

It was for humor.  But you cried anyway.

Another Zambo fail.  Poor sad clown. 

[Zambroski]

Just now, revkevsdi said:

Another Zambo fail.  Poor sad clown. 

My little BarbieHands.

[XCR1250]

Washington (CNN)In the hours before the attack on the two tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, the Iranians spotted a US drone flying overhead and launched a surface-to-air missile at the unmanned aircraft, a US official told CNN.

The missile missed the drone and fell into the water, the official said.

Prior to taking fire, the American MQ-9 drone observed Iranian vessels closing in on the tankers, the official added, though the source did not say whether the unmanned aircraft saw the boats conducting an actual attack.

 

Trump raises stakes on Gulf tanker attacks -- for himself and Iran

Still, it is the first claim that the US has information of Iranian movements prior to the attack.

CNN has not seen any imagery from the US drones.

Iran has strenuously denied any involvement in the attack.

The same official also said in the days prior to the attack, a US reaper drone was shot down in the Red Sea by what is believed to be an Iranian missile fired by Houthi rebels.

The Pentagon had tough words for Iran on Friday as the US continues to assert its claim that Tehran was responsible for the attack on the two oil tankers in international waters after releasing video footage its says shows an Iranian patrol boat removing an unexploded mine from one of the vessels' hulls.

"We're making sure that General McKenzie and the central command has the resources and the support that they need to conduct their missions," acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said, adding that the US continues to work on building an international consensus that Iran was behind the attack.

Trump says Iran 'did do it'

The United Kingdom released a statement Friday saying it is "almost certain" that a branch of the Iranian military -- the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) -- attacked two tankers.

The IRGC is an elite wing of the Iranian military that was established in the aftermath of the country's revolution in 1979. In April 2019, the US officially designated it as a foreign terrorist organization, a move which was rejected by authorities in Tehran.

No other state or non-state actor "could plausibly have been responsible," the statement added.

But Iran does not appear to be backing off and continues to engage in provocative behavior, according to a US official who told CNN on Friday that Iranian small boats are preventing tug boats from towing away one of the damaged tankers.

President Donald Trump seems convinced that Tehran was responsible.

 

With Iran, sometimes the logical explanation is the correct one

"Iran did do it and you know they did it because you saw the boat," he said, appearing to refer to the images and video released by the Pentagon late Thursday.

In the video, a smaller boat is shown coming up to the side of the Japanese-owned tanker. An individual stands up on the bow of the boat and can be seen removing an object from the tanker's hull. The US says that object is likely an unexploded mine.

A senior diplomatic source of a US ally told CNN Friday, "It is a virtual certainty Iran was behind this latest attack. The video now nails it."

The source added that the goal of the response from the US government thus far is all about publicly exposing Iranian actions and intensifying maximum pressure.

After the United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, it adopted a policy of maximum economic pressure and sent a carrier group to the region, the source said this "Iranian retaliation is designed to show they can disrupt, and push oil prices up."

The Trump administration predicted that the pressure from the United States would bring Iran to the negotiating table, but European leaders disagreed, believing it would empower the hardliners, the source continued.

Iran denies involvement

Iran has denied any involvement in the incident, with its foreign minister suggesting that the US was quick to make allegations "without a shred of evidence."

The attack could provide more fodder for Iran hawks within the US administration, whose recent Iran saber-rattling has frustrated Trump. One of them, national security adviser John Bolton, announced last month that the Pentagon was deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the Middle East in response to a "number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings" from Iran.

The two tankers -- one carrying oil and the other transporting chemicals -- were attacked near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that has been the focal point of regional tensions for decades. Roughly 30% of the world's sea-borne crude oil passes through the strategic choke point, making it a flashpoint for political and economic friction.

Jonathan Cohen, acting US ambassador to the United Nations, said Thursday that he echoed Pompeo's comments in a private meeting of the UN Security Council, describing the attack as "another example of Iran's destabilizing activities in the region."

The Iranian mission to the UN rejected the US' claim.

Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for the Iranian mission, tweeted a statement saying Iran "categorically rejects the US unfounded claim" that Iran is behind the attacks and "condemns it in the strongest possible terms."

He added that Iran "expresses concern" over the "suspicious incidents." And he called it "ironic" that the US, which withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is now calling Iran to come back for negotiations and diplomacy.

This story and headline have been updated.

CNN's Michelle Kosinski contributed reporting