Iran has said it responded to a distress call from the Panamanian-flagged tanker MT Riah, based in the United Arab Emirates, and came to its rescue. But no other nation has reported receiving a distress call from the Riah.Say, what's flat, black and glows in the dark?
The tanker was seen being escorted by Iranian naval vessels after the transponder that automatically reports its location was switched off on Saturday.
The U.S. has overwhelming firepower in the area, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is operating just outside the Persian Gulf. But the U.S. does not want to get into the business of escorting ships into and out of the Gulf.
I'm not really sure either... but I bet it doesn't pump a single barrel of oil.
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RELATED: The Ayatollah's feelings got hurt, so...
Earlier this month, HMS Montrose positioned itself between a British tanker and three Iranian gunboats after the tanker was ordered to sail into Iranian waters. The ship was credited with having prevented a hijacking, or worse.**********
The Iranian government denies the failed ambush took place.
LAST WORD: Here's the beef!
It's hoped that fifth-generation F-22 stealth jets and other fighters will be flown from the base to strike Iranian targets should war break out, the unnamed officials said.
The fresh deployment is part of the 1,000 additional troops being sent to the Middle East announced by the US last month.