This can be a locator map for the Gulf Cooperation Council member states: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates.
AP
conceal caption
toggle caption
AP
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A cargo ship caught hearth Sunday after being hit by an unknown projectile off Qatar’s coast, the British navy stated, within the newest assault on vessels within the Persian Gulf since a shaky ceasefire stopped preventing between the U.S. and Iran.
The Trump administration says the month-old ceasefire stays in impact. Nevertheless it has been repeatedly examined with Iran proscribing site visitors by the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway key to the worldwide move of oil, and the U.S. imposing a blockade of Iranian ports.
Washington has been awaiting Iran’s response to a brand new proposal for a deal to finish the conflict, reopen the strait to transport and roll again Iran’s nuclear program.
One of many major sticking factors within the negotiations is the destiny of Iran’s stockpile of extremely enriched uranium. The U.N. nuclear company says Iran has greater than 440 kilograms (970 kilos) of uranium that’s enriched as much as 60% purity, a brief, technical step from weapons-grade ranges.
In an interview with Iranian state media, a spokesman for the Iranian navy stated that forces had been on “full readiness” to guard nuclear websites the place the uranium is saved.
“We considered it possible that they might intend to steal it through infiltration operations or heliborne operations,” Brig. Gen. Akrami Nia advised the IRNA information company late Saturday. He did not provide additional particulars.
The vast majority of Iran’s extremely enriched uranium is probably going nonetheless at its Isfahan nuclear advanced, the pinnacle of the U.N. nuclear company advised The Related Press final month.
The Isfahan facility was bombarded by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes within the 12-day conflict final yr, and confronted much less intense assaults on this yr’s conflict.
In Sunday’s naval assault, the UK Maritime Commerce Operations Centre stated that the strike brought about a small hearth on the ship, which was extinguished. The assault occurred 23 nautical miles (43 kilometers) northeast of Qatar’s capital, Doha, the UKMTO stated.
There have been no reported casualties, it stated. It gave no particulars on the proprietor or origin of the ship, and there was no declare of accountability.
However there have been a number of assaults in opposition to ships within the Persian Gulf over the previous week. On Friday, the U.S. struck two Iranian oil tankers after it stated that the vessels had been attempting to breach its blockade of Iran’s ports.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy on Sunday reiterated its warning that any assault on Iranian oil tankers or industrial vessels can be met with a “heavy assault” on one of many U.S. bases within the area and enemy ships.
U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated threats to renew full-scale bombing, if Iran does not settle for an settlement to reopen the strait and roll again its nuclear program. Iran has largely blocked the essential waterway for international vitality since joint strikes on Feb. 28 by the U.S. and Israel launched the conflict, which has brought about a worldwide spike in gas costs and rattling world markets.
