U.S. says claim Iran struck unmanned ship in Strait of Hormuz ‘total lie’
Diplomats say the U.S., Britain, France and Germany now seek to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council for failure to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.
The U.S. has stated that Iran's assertion of striking an unmanned American vessel attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz is a "total lie." This claim came a day after the U.S. military reported incidents where forces struck three Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for the U.S. Navy facing attacks from ballistic missiles. Experts have labeled this development as a dangerous escalation following Iran's previous attacks on commercial shipping at sea.
The conflict began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, but since a ceasefire agreement in June, intermittent fighting has continued, with both sides attempting to inflict military and economic damage as negotiations have collapsed. The U.S. and Iran resumed attacks recently, reactivating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran's southern coast.
At least five individuals were killed during a U.S. bombardment earlier in the week, reigniting concerns about civilian casualties in the war's initial strikes. The Trump administration has adopted a strategy of military responses to attacks on the strait while targeting foreign financial institutions managing Iran's finances. However, Iran's hard-line leaders have shown a readiness to stand their ground after enduring sanctions for decades.
In response, Iran has developed a shadow fleet to transport oil, bypassing sanctions and seeking to maintain oil exports to sustain economic stability. The U.S. Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, reported that approximately 9 million barrels of oil daily pass through the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting a potential stabilization in energy prices.
The flows are believed to account for at least two-thirds of pre-conflict levels, contingent on the presence of the U.S. Navy to protect tankers from possible Iranian retaliation. Diplomats and negotiators from the U.S., Britain, France, and Germany aim to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council for non-compliance with nuclear non-proliferation agreements.
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