Iranian media releases photos purportedly of Front Altair crew members
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Tasnim News, Iranian media close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) published photos late on Thursday claiming that 23 crew members of the Front Altair are at Jask Port in Hormuzgan province.
Photos showed the apparent sailors drinking water, and sitting in sofas while Iran's state-run Press TV was shown on a television.
Their nationalities were not revealed by Tasnim. Some have light skin and eyes, while other have darker features.
Jask Port is located in Hormuzgan province, Iran, and situated opposite of Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
Tasnim also released video captured by the IRGC's Navy showing ships extinguishing flames billowing from the Front Altair.
This morning both it and the Kokuka Courageous oil tankers came under attack in the Gulf of Oman.
The USS Bainbridge was shown in a separate photo published by Tasnim, reportedly taken by the IRGC Navy. Rudaw could not independently verify the IRGC reports.
Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the incident "suspicious." Iran has not claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei did not comment about the incident. He met on Thursday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tehran who was trying to mediate tensions between Iran and the United States.
"We have no doubt in @abeshinzo’s goodwill and seriousness; but regarding what you mentioned from U.S. president, I don’t consider Trump as a person deserving to exchange messages with; I have no response for him & will not answer him," tweeted Khamenei after the meeting.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a short but direct statement blaming Iran for attacks on two oil vessels in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday.
"It is the assessment of the United States government that the Islamic Republic of Iran is responsible for the attacks that occurred in the Gulf of Oman today," he said.
Pompeo, a former US military officer and the head of the CIA, again hit on that only a state actor would be capable of conducting such attacks.
"This assessment is based on intelligence, the weapons used, the level of expertise needed to operate the operation, recent similar Iranian attacks on shipping, and the fact that no proxy group operating in the area has the resources and proficiencies to act with such a high degree of sophistication," he said.
He claimed that the attacks were unprovoked, despite US sanctions which have crippled the Iranian economy over the past year.
"This is only the latest in a series of attacks instigated by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its surrogates against American and allied interests — and they should be understood in the context of 40 years of unprovoked aggression against freedom-loving nations.
He said in April the Islamic Republic promised to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Now they are making good on that promise," he said.
Pompeo then detailed all of the alleged attacks carried out by Iran against ships since May, in Iraq, in Yemen, Afghanistan, and against airports and oil pipelines in Saudi Arabia.
"Taken as a whole, these unprovoked attacks present a clear threat to international peace and security, a blatant assault on the freedom of navigation, and an unacceptable campaign of escalating tension by Iran," he added.
Pompeo's statement lasted about five minutes and he fielded no questions from reporters.
Noting Japanese PM Abe's "historic" visit to Tehran, Pompeo called the Ayatollah’s rejection of diplomacy and subsequent attack by Iran as an "insult" to Japan.
"The Supreme Leader's government then insulted Japan by attacking a Japanese-owned oil tanker just outside of Iranian waters, threatening the lives of the entire crew, creating a maritime emergency," he said, calling Iran FM Zarif's reaction "sardonic."
Pompeo added that he instructed the US ambassador to the United Nations to raise the issue during the Secretary Council meeting later on Thursday.