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A10 WORLD NEWS
Monday 13 May 2019

UAE says 4 ships targeted by ‘sabotage’ off its coast

By JON GAMBRELL found the report about ex-
Associated Press plosions at the port to be
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- unsubstantiated.
ates (AP) — The United Fujairah’s port is located
Arab Emirates said Sunday about 140 kilometers (85
that four commercial ships miles) from the Strait of Hor-
off its eastern coast “were muz, through which a third
subjected to sabotage of all oil at sea is traded.
operations,” just hours af- The facility handles oil for
ter Iranian and Lebanese bunkering and shipping, as
media outlets aired false well as general and bulk
reports of explosions at a cargo. It is seen as strategi-
nearby Emirati port. cally located, serving ship-
Emirati officials declined to ping routes in the Persian
elaborate on the nature of Gulf, the Indian subconti-
the sabotage or say who nent and Africa.
might have been responsi- The reported sabotage in-
ble. However, the reported cident comes after the U.S.
incident comes as the U.S. Maritime Administration
has warned ships that “Iran warned Thursday that Iran
or its proxies” could be tar- could target commercial
geting maritime traffic in sea traffic.
the region, and as America In this May 30, 2012, file photo, fishermen cross the sea waters off Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, “Since early May, there
is deploying an aircraft car- near the Strait of Hormuz. is an increased possibility
rier and B-52 bombers to Associated Press that Iran and/or its regional
the Persian Gulf to counter enriching uranium at higher said there were “no injuries Mayadeen, quoting “Gulf proxies could take action
alleged threats from Teh- levels in 60 days if world or fatalities on board the sources,” falsely reported against U.S. and partner
ran. powers failed to negotiate vessels” and “no spillage of that a series of explosions interests, including oil pro-
Tensions have risen in the new terms for the deal. harmful chemicals or fuel.” had struck Fujairah’s port. duction infrastructure, af-
year since President Don- The statement from the The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, State and semi-official me- ter recently threatening to
ald Trump withdrew the UAE’s Foreign Ministry put which oversees the region, dia in Iran picked up the close the Strait of Hormuz,”
United States from the 2015 the ships near the country’s did not immediately offer report from Al-Mayadeen, the warning read. “Iran or
nuclear deal between Iran territorial waters in the Gulf comment on the incident. which later published the its proxies could respond by
and world powers, restoring of Oman, east of the port Emirati officials declined to names of vessels it claimed targeting commercial ves-
American sanctions that of Fujairah. It said it was in- elaborate while their inves- were involved in the inci- sels, including oil tankers,
have pushed Iran’s econ- vestigating the incident “in tigation is ongoing. dent. The Associated Press, or U.S. military vessels in the
omy into crisis. Last week, cooperation with local and Earlier Sunday, Lebanon’s after speaking to Emirati of- Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb
Iran warned it would begin international bodies.” It pro-Iran satellite channel Al- ficials and local witnesses, Strait, or the Persian Gulf.”q

Iranian media say reformist magazine closed by authorities

Associated Press between the U.S. and Trump pulled America out
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian Iran, warning that closing of a year ago.
authorities shut down a re- the strategic Strait of Hor- The hard-line Iranian news-
formist magazine that had muz, an occasional Ira- paper Kayhan criticized
urged negotiations with the nian threat, would lead to Seda’s reporting as par-
United States, local media “widespread war.” roting the “voice of Trump
reported Sunday. A third of all oil traded by through the mouths of
The weekly magazine Seda sea passes through the reformists.” Also Sunday,
was handed a suspension strait, which lies at the nar- Iran’s parliament held a
order Saturday by a court in row mouth of the Persian closed session to discuss
Tehran, the reformist news- Gulf. Recent U.S. military recent developments in
paper Arman reported. deployments to the Per- the Persian Gulf, state TV
Seda’s most recent front sian Gulf, including an air- reported. The head of the
page had shown a U.S. air- craft carrier strike group, elite Revolutionary Guard,
craft carrier fleet and the have raised tensions with Gen. Hossein Salami, spoke
caption “At the crossroads The front cover of the May 11, 2019 edition of the weekly reformist Iran. Tehran has also begun about the increased U.S.
between war and peace.” magazine, Seda, center right, is on display at a news stand in setting its own deadlines military presence, but the
The magazine called for downtown Tehran, Iran, May 12, 2019. over its unraveling nuclear broadcast did not give
“high-level engagement” Associated Press deal that President Donald specific details.q