U.S.: Vid shows Iran hit tankers

Grainy black and white surveillance video showing a group of men in a small power boat furiously working alongside an oil tanker proves Iran was behind the sabotage that crippled two ships in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, according to the U.S. military.

The Japanese owner of one of the ships, however, disputes the the American account.

A set of explosions ripped through the Japaneseowned Kokuka Courageous and the Norwegian-owned MT Front Altair Thursday morning in unprovoked attacks, Secretary of State Pompeo said. He vowed the U.S. would defend itself and its allies against Iranian forces in the wake of the blasts, but did not initially provide specific evidence the nation was behind the “blatant assault.”

The footage, in addition to still photos also released Friday, appears to show Iran’s Revolutionary Guard pull up alongside the Kokuka Courageous and remove an unexploded mine still attached to the vessel, Central Command Spokesman Capt. Bill Urban said. The U.S. military said the move was an effort to hide evidence of its involvement from the scene.

“The U.S. and international community stand ready to defend interests, including the freedom of navigation,” Urban said. “The United States has no interest in engaging in a new conflict in the Middle East. However, we will defend our interests.”

A different version of events emerged from the Far East on Friday.

In Tokyo, the owner of the Kokuka Courageous said its sailors saw “flying objects” before the attack, suggesting it wasn’t damaged by mines. Company president Yutaka Katada offered no evidence for his claim.

Katada also said crew members saw an Iranian naval ship nearby, but did not specify whether this was before or after the attacks.

The tankers were sailing about 25 miles off the southern coast of Iran when the explosions occurred. The Front Altair, loaded with naphtha from the United Arab Emirates, radioed for help after it caught fire. The Kokuka, packed with methanol from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, called for help a short time later.

Iran has denied involvement in the explosions and slammed the U.S. government for “warmongering.”

“The U.S. economic war and terrorism against the Iranian people as well as its massive military presence in the region have been and continue to be the main sources of insecurity and instability in the wider Persian Gulf region and the most significant threat to peace and security,” Tehran said in a statement to the UN Security Council.