# Iran declines invitation to call Trump about Trump's concerns: Trump the statesman, part 2? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 10, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786 "2019-05-10T16:28:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/141 "2019-05-29T23:53:40Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Where have I heard this one before - “If it’s legal then it’s perfectly acceptable” Aye; as I was reading **XT** ’s posts, I kept thinking of another poster who makes that same “argument” all the time (or used to, when he posted here). ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/142 "2019-05-30T00:04:04Z")
> [@XT](#): > > So, I wanted to post [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF8IFTfTC9A) link to a YouTube video that, IMHO, does a good job of showing the real reasons why the US is pursuing this (stupid, IMHO) policy towards Iran, what Trump et al (actually, I think Bolton and other hawks in the administration) hopes to achieve, and why it probably won’t work. I agree that this is an excellent summation of the situation; thanks for bringing it into the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/143 "2019-05-30T06:06:17Z")
I saw this just as I was shutting things down for the night: [The Latest: Khamenei says Iran won’t negotiate on military](https://apnews.com/57cfdac3c387412f98739083543e66b2) > [@](#): > > 11 p.m. > > Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says his country will not negotiate on issues related to its military capabilities. > > During a meeting with university professors on Wednesday, Khamenei said “Negotiations on defensive issues means that we give up our defensive capabilities.” He said negotiating with the U.S. would bring nothing but harm. > > Khamenei also said Iran is not looking to acquire nuclear weapons “not because of the sanctions or America,” but because nuclear weapons are forbidden under Islamic Sharia law. > > Tensions between Washington and Tehran soared recently over America deploying an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf over a still-unexplained threat it perceives from Tehran. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/144 "2019-05-30T11:22:49Z")
In the old days, an embargo required a powerful navy; and for Iran paratroopers would need to be sent in to lay siege at its borders. Starvation would force Iranis to lick the boots of their American masters. But in today’s world, navies and armies are unnecessary. Financial centers in the U.S. control the world economy; and continue to do Trump’s bidding. Iran can be ruined just by pushing buttons in New York. It is the United States which is starting war with Iran, by abandoning its covenant and, more importantly, by imposing a strict embargo on the struggling country. Iran’s economy is plunging, its people suffering, … for what? So it will agree to the agreement it has already made? … and is still largely keeping despite U.S. attempts to provoke war? _ **If Iran fires the first shot, do not blame them for a war. The U.S. is completely responsible for whatever tragedy befalls.** _ There WAS a solution to the “Iran problem.” A solution which was carefully negotiated by the best President of the past 50 years, was approved UNANIMOUSLY by the U.N. Security Council and, reluctantly, by Iran’s factions. (That solution may no longer be available: Iranis have learned that the solemn promise of the U.S.A. has no more value than the turds or vomit of a diseased dotard.) If Trump’s goal is bloodshed to appease or lull his base, his strategy may make sense, but let’s take him at his word. WHY then is adopting such a stupid policy and provoking war? Because it is NOT a stupid policy for top U.S. “allies” — or rather the evil countries with their tongues stuck up Trump’s a\ ***o**. MBS of Saudi is delighted to have the Irani Shi’ites starve, as is the despotic Netanyahu. What about the _top_ U.S. “ally”, Putin’s Russia? Yes, Iran is Russia’s de facto ally in the Middle East but a U.S.-Iran war would be very good news for Putin, and he has probably found clever ways to niggle Trump in that direction. Iran occupies a strategic position near Russia’s border; Iran’s dependence on Russia will be very good for Putin. And any war involving America serves Russian interests. What a stupid mess. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/145 "2019-05-30T18:44:08Z")
[Relevant story about the OIC meeting in Mecca yesterday](https://apnews.com/38b6b36a10ba456b84507e69fcc355e4): > [@](#): > > Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister on Thursday urged Muslim nations to confront with “all means of force and firmness” recent attacks in the Persian Gulf that U.S. and some Arab officials have blamed on Iran. > > Ibrahim al-Assaf made the comments at a preparatory meeting of foreign ministers of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, or OIC, ahead of a trio of summits in the kingdom’s holy city of Mecca. > > Saudi Arabia hastily called for the meetings in response to the spike in tensions with its key rival, Iran. That King Salman could quickly bring regional leaders and heads of state to Mecca so rapidly reflects the kingdom’s weight in the region and its desire to project a unified position on Iran. > [@](#): > > In his opening remarks, al-Assaf said the alleged sabotage of oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and a drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in recent weeks threaten the global economy and endanger regional and international security. > > “We should confront it with all means of force and firmness,” he said. > > Upon their arrival at the airport, each leader was shown Houthi military items, such as a destroyed drone, missiles and mortar shells used in the conflict with the Saudis. The leaders were given a brief explanation of the weapons on display by Col. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition at war in Yemen. They’re doing their prep work. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/146 "2019-05-30T18:47:33Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > … and is still largely keeping despite U.S. attempts to provoke war? _ **If Iran fires the first shot, do not blame them for a war. The U.S. is completely responsible for whatever tragedy befalls.** _ Just a quibble here: it’s pretty obvious to me that the US (by which I mean Trump) is doing the bidding of Saudi Arabia (by which I mean, the House of Saud), using the canard of “global economic stability” (by which they mean, “our means of obtaining money”) as part of their excuse for taking action. I’m not saying the US doesn’t have some self-interest here, but really, this is Saudia Arabia getting the US to do their grunt work, because they have tons of money. And money is what rules the world. If you have money, as Saudi Arabia is demonstrating, you can rent the best military might on the planet whenever you want. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/147 "2019-05-30T19:07:35Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Just a quibble here: it’s pretty obvious to me that the US (by which I mean Trump) is doing the bidding of Saudi Arabia (by which I mean, the House of Saud), using the canard of “global economic stability” (by which they mean, “our means of obtaining money”) as part of their excuse for taking action. I’m not saying the US doesn’t have some self-interest here, but really, this is Saudia Arabia getting the US to do their grunt work, because they have tons of money. And money is what rules the world. If you have money, as Saudi Arabia is demonstrating, you can rent the best military might on the planet whenever you want. I’m not 100% sure what you’re saying here. Might I paraphrase it as follows? _MBS al-Saudi is a very powerful but evil murderous man, much like the late Saddam once was. With Arabia and Persia both major oil producers, sanctions and war are win-win for him. Trump is merely a frothing-at-the-mouth puppet, strings yanked. (MBS, Yetanyahu and especially Putin are all delighted with the Bolton appointment.)_ If so, color me in agreement … with the stipulation that there other evil actors involved. I assume the CFR (or Illuminati, whatever it is) understand all this far better than I — yet are unable to act. _ **Our democracy has literally been turned over to Alexjones, Hannity, and other crooks and clowns.** __I only wish there were a “New World Order” able to exert some influence._ ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/148 "2019-05-30T19:23:20Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > . . . you can rent the best military might on the planet whenever you want. Maybe not the best, but you can definitely rent [Erik Prince’s band of merry mercenaries](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosalindadams/blackwater-erik-prince-frontier-services-group-iraq). ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/149 "2019-05-30T19:31:39Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Maybe not the best, but you can definitely rent [Erik Prince’s band of merry mercenaries](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosalindadams/blackwater-erik-prince-frontier-services-group-iraq). I really dislike that jackass (and everything he stands for). ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/150 "2019-05-31T21:50:14Z")
[Here’s some news](https://apnews.com/0209af814f73484f97032945161523bb): > [@](#): > > In a confidential quarterly report distributed to member states and seen by The Associated Press, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran has stayed within key limitations set in the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, for uranium and heavy water stockpiles. > > But while in past reports the IAEA said Iran’s research and development on enrichment “has been conducted using centrifuges within the limits defined in the JCPOA,” the Friday report instead changed the wording to say it “has been conducted using centrifuges specified in the JCPOA.” No explanation or speculation on what the change in wording means or why it happened, tho. > [@](#): > > In a footnote, the agency said that “up to 33” more advanced IR-6 centrifuges have been installed and that “technical discussions in relation to the IR-6 centrifuges are ongoing.” > > Under terms of the nuclear deal, Iran is allowed to test no more than 30 of the IR-6s once the deal has been in place for 8 1/2 years. The deal is murky about limits before that point, which will arrive in 2023. > > The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, said last month that Iran had begun installing a chain of 20 IR-6 centrifuges at its underground Natanz enrichment facility. Iranian officials say the IR-6 can enrich 10 times faster than an IR-1. > [@](#): > > Iran maintains that it is allowed to install the centrifuges, regardless of the agreement’s limit on their use for testing. A senior diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t officially allowed to comment on the report said the faster centrifuges were not yet being fed with uranium. > > The diplomat said the technical discussions on the centrifuges were between the deal’s signatories and Iran, but would not elaborate. “It is being discussed, and we report the facts that we see,” the diplomat said. > > “The feed line is under agency seal,” the diplomat said, adding it was up to partner countries in the deal to determine whether the installation was a violation of the accord. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2019, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/151 "2019-06-02T13:42:17Z")
So the tune has now changed from > [@Trump](#): > > If they want to talk, I’m available. to “if they want to talk, Mike Pompeo is available”, a notion that I’m sure will further endear our shithead president to them. I’m sure [url=]this news is going to calm everything down :rolleyes:: > [@](#): > > “We’re prepared to engage in a conversation with no preconditions,” Pompeo told reporters at a news conference with his Swiss counterpart. “We’re ready to sit down with them, but the American effort to fundamentally reverse the malign activity of this Islamic Republic, this revolutionary force, is going to continue.” No preconditions, except that the US has no intention of stopping what the US is doing. That’s some awesome negotiating tactics there, eh. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/152 "2019-06-05T16:15:29Z")
[https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/state-department-support-iran-war-social-media-attack](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/state-department-support-iran-war-social-media-attack) The State Dept funded social media attacks on Iranian-American anti-war advocates. They stopped at some point, presumably when the details of what they were funding were publicized (or about to be publicized), by my reading. Not surprising, but still disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/153 "2019-06-06T17:09:21Z")
There’s an excellent article on Lawfare published yesterday called [One Year Into Trump’s Iran Strategy: Where Do Things Stand?](https://www.lawfareblog.com/one-year-trumps-iran-strategy-where-do-things-stand) It’s fairly comprehensive, detailing the 12 points that Trumpompeo (sorry; I couldn’t resist) demanded of Iran, the 3 areas/types of pressures applied and then tries to assess whether or not the desired results are being achieved. > [@](#): > > One year out, America’s maximum pressure campaign has certainly succeeded in straining Iran’s economy and undercutting European efforts to preserve the JCPOA. Still, it has failed to curb Iran’s ballistic program, spur the release of American detainees or end Iran’s support for proxy groups in the region. Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Iran are running hot, amplifying the risk of miscalculation by both sides. With Iran now on the brink of abandoning the JCPOA, it’s unclear where maximum pressure will lead. Though the Trump administration has been quick to downplay the risk of conflict, the lack of an overarching strategy leaves cause for real concern. I highly recommend this article if you are at all concerned or are simply trying to educate yourself on the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/154 "2019-06-07T18:22:22Z")
[New sanctions](https://apnews.com/c0ee23542ee948b3b33106f84010c51d): > [@](#): > > The Trump administration on Friday hit Iran with new sanctions that target its largest petrochemical company for providing support to the Revolutionary Guard Corps. > > The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company and 39 of its subsidiaries and foreign sales agents. It said the company holds 40% of Iran’s petrochemical production capacity and is responsible for 50% of the country’s petrochemical exports. It said the sanctions were the result of the company doing billions of dollars of business with the Guard Corps. > > The administration designated the corps a “foreign terrorist organization” last month, the first time it has ever done so for a foreign governmental agency. That means the U.S. can impose sanctions on any company or individual that provides a designated entity with material support. > > “By targeting this network we intend to deny funding to key elements of Iran’s petrochemical sector that provide support to the IRGC,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. “This action is a warning that we will continue to target holding groups and companies in the petrochemical sector and elsewhere that provide financial lifelines to the IRGC.” > [@](#): > > "Maximum pressure on Iran’s regime continues today,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, adding that U.S. will continue to act to “deny the regime the money it needs to destabilize the Middle East.” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/155 "2019-06-07T18:33:42Z")
Iran replies: > [@](#): > > “The United States’ unilateral nuclear as well as economic sanctions in defiance of Security Council resolution 2231 and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action have reached an unprecedented level during the past few months,” Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations said in the letter, which was dated May 23. > > “The United States shall bear full responsibility for the consequences of those wrongful acts,” Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi. “The international community should uphold its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations and consider and react proportionately to the unlawful conduct of the United States that has endangered international peace and security.” ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/156 "2019-06-07T18:44:58Z")
You cannot expect peace while applying maximum pressure. Maximum pressure is intended to undermine a regime’s economic stability. There is nothing “peaceful” about crippling another country’s economy. It’s a direct threat to their ability to govern. So let’s just call this what it is and call it a pretext to war. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/157 "2019-06-07T23:04:14Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > So let’s just call this what it is and call it a pretext to war. Aye; that’s been my point in creating this thread all along: to watch as the current administration manufactures & prosecutes a war with Iran. I’m sorry if that wasn’t clear. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/158 "2019-06-10T19:08:19Z")
[Iran posturing](https://apnews.com/9125291c1b97417e8fef2ac4c0f6ee35): > [@](#): > > Iran’s foreign minister warned the U.S. on Monday that it “cannot expect to stay safe” after launching what he described as an economic war against Tehran, taking a hard-line stance amid a visit by Germany’s top diplomat seeking to defuse tensions. > > A stern-faced Mohammad Javad Zarif offered a series of threats over the ongoing tensions gripping the Persian Gulf. The crisis takes root in President Donald Trump’s decision over a year ago to withdraw America from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Trump also reinstated tough sanctions on Iran, targeting its oil sector. > > “Mr. Trump himself has announced that the U.S. has launched an economic war against Iran,” Zarif said. “The only solution for reducing tensions in this region is stopping that economic war.” > > Zarif also warned: “Whoever starts a war with us will not be the one who finishes it.” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/159 "2019-06-13T12:48:12Z")
There was some posturing yesterday in Iran because Japanese PM Abe was there for trade talks. Abe cautioned that violence could erupt because of “an accident” and Iran again wagged their finger at the US to back off. TODAY, however, we have this: [Tankers targeted near Strait of Hormuz amid Iran-US tensions](https://apnews.com/d67714ab8ac344a3b3af19cca1c20192) > [@](#): > > Two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz were damaged in suspected attacks on Thursday, an assault that left one ablaze and adrift as sailors were evacuated from both vessels and the U.S. Navy rushed to assist amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. > > The Navy and the ship’s owners offered no immediate explanation on what weapon caused the damage to the MT Front Altair and the Kokuka Courageous in the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Iran, though all believed the ships had been targeted in an attack. The Ayatollah appears not to understand violence or the concept that the winners get to write the history books: > [@](#): > > Khamenei also said Iran remained opposed to building atomic weapons, but offered a challenge to Trump. > > “You should know that if we planned to produce nuclear weapons, America could not do anything,” said Khamenei, who has final say on all matters of state in Iran’s Shiite theocracy. :dubious::rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786/160 "2019-06-13T13:00:48Z")
"All 21 of its crew members were forced to abandon ship and were picked up by a nearby Dutch-flagged tugboat, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement said in a statement. One person suffered minor injuries, but the ship’s cargo of methanol was intact and the Kokuka Courageous was not in danger of sinking, according to vessel’s management firm. Thursday’s incident came as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was wrapping up a two-day trip to Iran on a mission to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran. Noting that Abe’s visit coincided with attacks on “Japan-related tankers,” Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted that “suspicious doesn’t begin to describe what likely transpired this morning.” > **[U.S. blames Iran for 'blatant assault' on oil tankers in Gulf of Oman](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/navy-aware-reports-incident-gulf-oman-n1017066)** > > The stretch of water separates Oman and the UAE from the Islamic republic. The incident comes amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-declines-invitation-to-call-trump-about-trumps-concerns-trump-the-statesman-part-2/833786.md?page=9)