Key moments since escalation of tensions with between Iran and the United States.
Key moments since escalation of tensions with between Iran and the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump announces that the United States will withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, which he described as “defective at its core.”
"I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal," Trump said on May 8
In response to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings, the United States is deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the U.S. Central Command region to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force. The United States is not seeking war with the Iranian regime, but we are fully prepared to respond to any attack, whether by proxy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or regular Iranian forces.
John Bolton
Iran announces its exit from “certain” obligations under the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement and gave a 60-day deadline to world powers to protect Iran’s interests against U.S. sanctions, or it will restart high-level uranium enrichment.
The UAE initially denied media reports of explosion. Hours later, however, the it confirmed that four commercial ships had been “subjected to sabotage operations” but stopped short of calling out suspects.
A day later Saudi Arabia said that two of its oil tankers were among the four vessels. Energy minister Khalid al-Falih said one them had been on its way to load crude from Ras Tanura port for delivery to Saudi Aramco customers in the U.S.
Iranian Hardliners Suggest More Attacks On UAE And Saudi Interests
Ship operators said that 21 crew on board the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous tanker and 23 on the Front Altair, owned by Norway, were evacuated by nearby vessels after the blasts erupted June 13.
U.S. officials have confirmed that an Iranian surface-to-air missile shot down a military drone in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz, several media outlets are reporting.
The report confirmed an earlier statement by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which claimed to have shot down a U.S. drone. However, the IRGC said the act occurred over Iran's southern province of Hormozgan, while the U.S. sources claimed the drone was in international airspace when it was shot out of the sky.
Trump Calls Iranian Downing Of U.S. Drone 'A Very Big Mistake
The Gibraltar Port and Enforcement agencies say they have detained a super tanker carrying Iranian crude oil to Syria Thursday morning on July 4.
A statement issued by Gibraltar authorities say the super tanker and its cargo have been detained with assistance by the United Kingdom's Royal Marines for violating EU sanctions against Syria. However, the statement did not mention Iran.
Nevertheless, if the vessel is confirmed to have been carrying Iranian oil, U.S. sanctions against Iran will also apply to the ship and its cargo.
Later on Thursday , acting Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said the supertanker was impounded after a request by the United States to Britain.
Why Iran Supertanker Took A Much Longer Route To Reach Syria?
Iran should seize a British oil tanker if an Iranian tanker detained off Gibraltar earlier this week is not released immediately, two influential Iranian figures said in tweets on Friday.
British Royal Marines seized the supertanker Grace 1 on Thursday for trying to take oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions, a dramatic step that drew Tehran's fury and could escalate its confrontation with the West.
Iran announced Sunday that it will no longer respect the limitations on uranium enrichment grade and the extent of stockpiling enriched uranium as set by the 2015 deal also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
A spokesman for President Hassan Rouhani administration, Ali Rabiei, said that Iran will leave behind the 3.67 percent enrichment level and will enrich higher grade uranium.
U.S. media are reporting that five armed Iranian boats attempted to seize a British tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz but were driven off by a Royal Navy vessel, in a move that followed threats by Iran to capture a British ship.
The CNN news channel, citing two U.S. officials, reported late on July 10 that the Iranians ordered the British Heritage oil tanker crossing the strait to change course and stop in Iranian territorial waters nearby.
But the incident ended when Britain’s HMS Montrose, which was acting as an escort for the tanker, pointed its guns at the Iranian boats as a warning, forcing them to back off, CNN said.
The United Kingdom will be sending the destroyer HMS Duncan to the Persian Gulf, according to Sky News. The HMS Duncan was due to relieve the HMS Montrose in the region, but this deployment was brought forward due to increased tensions between Iran and the United Kingdom.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) says its forces have detained a “foreign” oil tanker carrying 6000 barrels of crude oil in the Persian Gulf south of Larak Island. IRGC Seizes Oil Tanker in Persian Gulf
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has "confiscated" a British tanker, the Stena Impero, in the Strait of Hormuz for what it alleges was a failure "to respect international maritime rules."
According to the operator Northern Marine the vessel was approached by helicopters and other ships.
Early on Saturday Iran announced that the tanker was involved in an accident with an Iranian fishing boat and all its 23 crew members are on the vessel anchored at Bandar Abbas. The Iranian statement added that the tanker and its crew will remain there until "the investigation" is concluded. Europe's Outcry Mounts Over Iran's Tanker Seizure, U.K. Stresses 'Desire To Deescalate'
Iran said on Sunday it appreciated Saudi Arabia's efforts in the the return of an Iranian ship that had docked at Jeddah port because of technical problems in May, the semi-official Fars news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying.
"Iran appreciates efforts by the authorities of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Oman to secure the safe return of Iran's Happiness 1 oil tanker," Abbas Mousavi said.
