U.S. blames Iran for drone attack on Israeli-linked tanker

The U.S. joined the U.K. and Israel Sunday in blaming Iran for a fatal drone strike last week on an Israeli-linked tanker near the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea, and the U.S. said it would work with allies to develop a response to the incident.

The statement from Secretary of State Antony Blinken marked unusually blunt language from the Biden administration, particularly as it is also seeking to revive a nuclear deal with Iran.

“Upon review of the available information, we are confident that Iran conducted this attack,” Mr. Blinken said. “We are working with our partners to consider our next steps and consulting with governments inside the region and beyond on an appropriate response, which will be forthcoming.”

The U.K. and Israel similarly accused Iran of the suspected drone attack, which killed a British national and a Romanian national who were crew members.

Iran is always looking to push the boundaries and see how much it can get away with. But recently, Iran has been facing more internal conflict with its people being fed up with a corrupt government and its poor handling of the coronavirus crisis. This internal unrest has actually made the Iranian regime even bolder and pushier on the world stage as it works to use military victories over the U.S., even if small and symbolic, as propaganda to placate its frustrated population.

But ultimately, Iran’s constant meddling in the Persian Gulf and other vital waterways is essential to its much larger regional ambitions. Iran wants to gain control over maritime oil trade. …

Europe relies heavily on its precious oil commodity flowing through the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. If this waterway were attacked and passage barred, vessels would have to reroute around the southern tip of Africa, tripling the sailing time from the Persian Gulf to Italy, which imported 19.7 percent of its crude oil from Iraq in 2016.

Already, America has shown a desire to become considerably less involved militarily in the Middle East, even asking Europe to take over the security void. Europe sees the growing Iranian threat and has begun taking steps to protect its trading vessels. On January 30, the first French frigate began patrolling the Persian Gulf, which has since been joined by a Dutch vessel, as part of Europe’s new anti-Iranian naval mission, supported by Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Europe and Iran are on a collision course. Soon, these two nations will clash in a terrifying world war and Iran’s belligerence will finally be put to an end.

“Iranian Vessels Harass U.S. Warships in the Persian Gulf,” April 21, 2020, theTrumpet.com