Tankers Off Iran Hit by Suspected Torpedoes

Wall Street Journal ^ | June 13, 2019 10:04 a.m. ET | Rory Jones, Biography @RoryWSJ Rory.Jones@wsj.com Benoit Faucon and Costas Paris

[God luvs America]

DUBAI—Two tankers were damaged in attacks off the coast of Iran early Thursday, including one operated by a Japanese company, on a day when Tehran rebuffed attempts by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to ease a military standoff with the U.S.

The incidents sent oil prices sharply higher, reigniting fears of trade disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which over a third of the world’s seaborne crude oil is shipped. Brent crude, the international benchmark for crude prices, rose 4% on Thursday to $62.37.

The attacks appeared to use relatively sophisticated weapons, according to early assessments, and came within roughly 45 minutes of each other in the Gulf of Oman, where four tankers were attacked last month in an incident the U.S. blamed on Iran, which Tehran denied. The U.S. military has built up its military presence in the Persian Gulf in response to what American officials said were threats from Iran, sending an aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, and its strike group to the region.

[Jim W N]

Likely mine

Likely your WHAT?

[dfwgator]

[Jim W N]