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Iran, Tankers and the Threat of Greater Destruction

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Posted: July 21st, 2019

By Steven Ward

Steven R. Ward is a former member of CIA’s senior analytic service who specializes in Middle East security affairs. He also served as Deputy National Intelligence Officer for the Near East on the National Intelligence Council, and was a Director for Intelligence Programs on the National Security Council. He is the author of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence: A Concise History, Georgetown University Press.

New audio of the seizure of a British-flagged tanker indicates the vessel was too far away from help to avoid being forced to change course by Iranian Paramilitary forces last week.  In audio released on Sunday by a maritime security firm, a British officer unsuccessfully demanded freedom to sail through the Strait of Hormuz. 

Ships are getting caught in the middle of the rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran and the latest ongoing incident is casting new and broader perspective on the possibility of a modern-day ‘Tanker War’ in the Gulf.

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Categorized as:Middle East ReportingTagged with:

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