I'd say the whole of corporate media finds that curious tidbit about the Saint Nicholas more than a little strange. With the number of tankers that move in and out of the Persian Gulf, that Iran would seize this one tanker that the US had seized previously is a most amazing coincidence.
The question, though, is how does this benefit Iran?…
I'd say the whole of corporate media finds that curious tidbit about the Saint Nicholas more than a little strange. With the number of tankers that move in and out of the Persian Gulf, that Iran would seize this one tanker that the US had seized previously is a most amazing coincidence.
The question, though, is how does this benefit Iran? Iran seized an oil cargo bound for Turkey, not Israel or Europe. The ship has been reflagged and re-registered under a new name--it probably has different owners now.
While it may be the same physical vessel, every other aspect about the ship is now different. So why did Iran seize the tanker?
Well, I think it reasonable that the oil in question here *was* contraband, i.e. stolen from Iran, making the seizure legitimate. (I hold no allegiance or sympathy for Iran.)
And, that it was *not* bound for an Iranian enemy (although I don't think Iran and Turkey could in any way be considered allies, except maybe in both hating the Kurds), and therefore not really an escalation in the most recent brouhaha with the West, might actually have *relieved* the Iranians, as then they won't be blamed for direct confrontation.
I'd say the whole of corporate media finds that curious tidbit about the Saint Nicholas more than a little strange. With the number of tankers that move in and out of the Persian Gulf, that Iran would seize this one tanker that the US had seized previously is a most amazing coincidence.
The question, though, is how does this benefit Iran? Iran seized an oil cargo bound for Turkey, not Israel or Europe. The ship has been reflagged and re-registered under a new name--it probably has different owners now.
While it may be the same physical vessel, every other aspect about the ship is now different. So why did Iran seize the tanker?
Well, I think it reasonable that the oil in question here *was* contraband, i.e. stolen from Iran, making the seizure legitimate. (I hold no allegiance or sympathy for Iran.)
And, that it was *not* bound for an Iranian enemy (although I don't think Iran and Turkey could in any way be considered allies, except maybe in both hating the Kurds), and therefore not really an escalation in the most recent brouhaha with the West, might actually have *relieved* the Iranians, as then they won't be blamed for direct confrontation.