US denies Iran's claim of strike on unmanned vessel in Strait of Hormuz
Iran said it had struck a US unmanned vessel that, it claimed, was attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz. The US military rejected the claim, calling it a total lie, Global News Canada reports.
Strikes on tankers
Iran's statement came a day after the United States reported strikes on three Iranian oil tankers. The US military said this was a response to ballistic missiles being targeted at US Navy ships.
Experts cited by the Associated Press called the episode a dangerous escalation, as previous Iranian attacks at sea had targeted commercial shipping. According to the outlet, the United States and Iran resumed attacks last week after a month of relative calm. The Strait of Hormuz and areas along Iran's southern coast again became targets.
At least five people were killed during US bombing at the beginning of the week. The report notes that hostilities began after US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, and that clashes continued intermittently after a fragile ceasefire agreement was announced in June.
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Oil flows through the strait
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN that an average of 9 million barrels of oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz every day. In his assessment, taking into account oil transported through regional pipelines, supply volumes amount to about two-thirds or more of the level before the conflict began.
Wright said the security of these shipments depends on the presence of the US Navy, which escorts tankers and provides some protection against potential Iranian attacks. He also expressed the expectation that other countries would later support these efforts.
Diplomats said that the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany are seeking to refer Iran to the UN Security Council over its failure to comply with nuclear non-proliferation obligations. Talks on Iran's nuclear program broke down shortly after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding in mid-June.
