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US boosts Middle East troops as photos 'link Iran to tanker blasts'

Taken from a helicopter, the images apparently show Iranian forces removing an unexploded mine from a Japanese tanker.

Tuesday 18 June 2019 19:31, UK

Images released by US Navy
Image: Images released by US Navy
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The US is to send another 1,000 troops to the Middle East in response to what it describes as "hostile behaviour" by Iranian forces.

However, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the move was not a prelude to conflict.

"We have been engaged in many messages, even this moment right here, communicating to Iran that we are there to deter aggression," he told reporters at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.

"President Trump does not want war and we will continue to communicate that message while doing the things that are
necessary to protect American interests in the region.

"Now we need to make sure that we continue to do that so that we ultimately we get the opportunity to convince Iran that
it's not in their best interest to behave in this way."

His comments come after the Pentagon releasing new images it says shows Iran's Revolutionary Guard was behind the attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman last week.

Aluminum and green composite material the US says was left behind following the removal of an unexploded limpet mine on the Japanese owned motor tanker Kokuka Courageous in the Gulf of Oman
Image: Aluminum and green composite material the US says was left behind following the removal of an unexploded limpet mine on a Japanese-owned tanker
An unexploded limpet mine said to have been used in an attack on the Kokuka Courageous
Image: The US says the mine was used in an attack on the Kokuka Courageous in the Gulf of Oman

It said the photos, taken from a Navy helicopter, show Iranian forces removing an unexploded mine from the side of the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous.

Other photos show a large hole on the side of the Courageous, above the water line, that officials say appears to have been caused by another mine.

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what the Pentagon says are members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy photographed from a U.S. Navy MH-60R helicopter after removing an unexploded limpet mine from the M/T Kokuka Courageous
Image: What the Pentagon says are members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy photographed from a US Navy helicopter after removing the mine from the Kokuka Courageous
What the US says are members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy leaving after removing an unexploded limpet mine from the M/T Kokuka Courageous
Image: The US says it photographed members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps next to the Courageous

The Pentagon released the photos to bolster its claim that Iran was responsible for the attacks.

"Iran is responsible for the attack based on video evidence and the resources and proficiency needed to quickly remove the unexploded limpet mine," the US military's Central Command said in a statement.

A picture taken from a US Navy helicopter said to show members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy removing an unexploded limpet mine from the Kokuka Courageous
Image: A picture taken from a US Navy helicopter said to show members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy removing an unexploded limpet mine from the Kokuka Courageous
Hull penetration and blast damage on the starboard side of the Japanese owned motor tanker vessel Kokuka Courageous
Image: What is said to be blast damage on the starboard side of the Kokuka Courageous

In a statement announcing the additional deployment of troops, acting defence secretary Patrick Shanahan said: "The recent Iranian attacks validate the reliable, credible intelligence we have received on hostile behaviour by Iranian forces and their proxy groups that threaten United States personnel and interests across the region."

He added that the extra troops were for what he described as "defensive purposes".

Hull penetration and blast damage on the starboard side of the Japanese owned motor tanker vessel Kokuka Courageous, which was sustained from a June 13 limpet mine attack while operating in the Gulf of Oman
Image: US photos show a large hole on the side of the Courageous, above the water line, that officials say appears to have been caused by another mine
What the US says is internal hull penetration and blast damage sustained from a limpet mine attack on the starboard side of the Japanese owned Kokuka Courageous
Image: What the US says is internal hull penetration and blast damage from a mine

Iran insists the US has no hard evidence about its alleged involvement in the 13 June attacks on two ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said the UK's own assessment was that Iran was behind the planting of limpet mines on the tankers.

Tanker attacks: Was it Iran, and will it lead to war?
Tanker attacks: Was it Iran, and will it lead to war?

As the US accuses Iran of being behind the attacks, Sky's diplomatic editor Dominic Waghorn analyses what may happen next

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Despite British and US intelligence findings, Germany and others insisted on Monday it needed a clearer picture before wading into a row which could have serious implications in the Middle East.

It comes as if the EU fails to save another deal struck in 2015 on its nuclear programme.

Mojtaba Zolnour, the head of Iran's nuclear parliamentary committee, said: "There is not much time left until the end of the 60 days ultimatum given by Iran to the Europeans to save the [2015] deal," he said.

The ships were reportedly attacked in the Gulf of Oman
Image: The ships were attacked in the Gulf of Oman

"After that Iran will suspend implementation of the non-proliferation treaty."

The 2015 nuclear deal between Iran, the US, the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany, called the JCPOA, reduced Iran's stockpile of uranium by 98% to 300kg (660lbs), and said that quantity must not be exceeded until 2031.

However, the US unilaterally pulled out of the agreement last year and reimposed sanctions.

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