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Iran says 19 dead in Gulf of Oman friendly-fire incident Iran says 19 dead in Gulf of Oman friendly fire incident
(about 4 hours later)
Support ship was hit by missile in another blow after Iran accidentally fired on Ukrainian passenger jet, killing 176 people Anti-ship missile being tested by frigate Jamaran hits support ship setting targets
Nineteen Iranian sailors have been killed and 15 injured, some severely, in a friendly fire incident involving two Iranian naval vessels, the country’s navy has admitted. Nineteen Iranian sailors have been killed and 15 injured, some severely, in a friendly fire incident involving two Iranian naval vessels, the country’s navy has said.
A new anti-ship missile being tested by the frigate Jamaran on Sunday in the Gulf of Oman hit a support ship, Konarak, setting targets close to the contested Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil supplies are sent.A new anti-ship missile being tested by the frigate Jamaran on Sunday in the Gulf of Oman hit a support ship, Konarak, setting targets close to the contested Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil supplies are sent.
The incident is another severe blow to the prestige of the Iranian military still recovering from its unintentional attack on a Ukrainian civilian aircraft departing Tehran on 8 January that killed all 176 people onboard. The incident is another severe blow to the prestige of the Iranian military still recovering from its unintentional attack on a Ukrainian civilian aircraft departing from Tehran on 8 January, which killed all 176 people onboard.
Security forces have also been accused of deliberately shooting hundreds of Iranians in November protesting over a petrol price rise.Security forces have also been accused of deliberately shooting hundreds of Iranians in November protesting over a petrol price rise.
A report on state TV said the Konarak was struck “after moving a practice target to its destination and not creating enough distance between itself and the target”.A report on state TV said the Konarak was struck “after moving a practice target to its destination and not creating enough distance between itself and the target”.
The incident happened near the port of Jask, about 1,270km (790 miles) south-east of Tehran, in the Gulf of Oman, state TV said. The incident happened near the port of Jask, state TV said. Iranian state sources quoting a local hospital spokesman initially said only one sailor had been killed and two injured severely, but the number of deaths rapidly escalated later on Monday.
Iranian state sources quoting a local hospital spokesman initially said only one sailor had been killed, and two injured severely, but the number of deaths rapidly escalated later on Monday.
Iran was relatively swift to admit the scale of the mistake, following criticism of the Revolutionary Guards, including by senior politicians up to the level of the president, Hassan Rouhani, for initially trying to cover up that its forces had fired on the Ukrainian jet.Iran was relatively swift to admit the scale of the mistake, following criticism of the Revolutionary Guards, including by senior politicians up to the level of the president, Hassan Rouhani, for initially trying to cover up that its forces had fired on the Ukrainian jet.
The navy’s public relations department expressed its condolences to the families of the dead but also emphasised the defensive readiness and what it described as martyrdom-seeking spirit of the naval staff.The navy’s public relations department expressed its condolences to the families of the dead but also emphasised the defensive readiness and what it described as martyrdom-seeking spirit of the naval staff.
It is not known how the Konarak was hit but the Jamaran may have locked on to it as the closest and largest vessel it encountered when it turned on the radar for final target-acquisition of the Nour anti-ship missile. Alternatively, it could have been a targeting mistake from the Jamaran crew.It is not known how the Konarak was hit but the Jamaran may have locked on to it as the closest and largest vessel it encountered when it turned on the radar for final target-acquisition of the Nour anti-ship missile. Alternatively, it could have been a targeting mistake from the Jamaran crew.
The still burning Konarak was towed into the nearby port of Chabahar, with photographs showing its superstructure including its command bridge completely destroyed. Pictures of the dead crew were also published, as well as messages of condolences from senior figures in the armed forces, including the Revolutionary Guards. The still burning Konarak was towed into the nearby port of Chabahar, and photos showed its superstructure including its command bridge destroyed. Pictures of the dead crew were also published, as well as messages of condolences from senior figures in the armed forces, including the Revolutionary Guards.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important seaways and over the past year or so the number of military vessels has grown as nations either in alliances or separately have sought to protect their commercial shipping operating under their national flag. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important seaways and over the past year or so the number of military vessels has grown as nations either in alliances or separately have sought to protect commercial shipping operating under their national flag.
The US president, Donald Trump, last month said he had ordered the US military to attack and destroy any Iranian vessel that harasses US navy ships. The order came one week after 11 small armed Revolutionary Guards speedboats swarmed around US navy and Coast Guard ships in international waters in the northern Gulf. Donald Trump said last month he had ordered the US military to attack and destroy any Iranian vessel that harasses US navy ships. The order came a week after 11 small armed Revolutionary Guards speedboats swarmed around US navy and coastguard ships in international waters in the northern Gulf.
Tensions between Iran and the US have been rising ever since the US in 2018 pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal, imposing sanctions on the country and seeking to prevent Iran from exporting its oil. Tensions between Iran and the US have been rising ever since Washington pulled out of a nuclear deal in 2018, imposed sanctions on Iran and sought to prevent Iran from exporting its oil.
The US navy’s 5th Fleet, which monitors the region, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The US navy’s 5th Fleet, which monitors the region, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Iran is currently negotiating with the US over a major prisoner swap, which on Monday the Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, said had freed scientist Sirous Asgari, who was held in US, and at the same time moving to slowly relax controls introduced as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Latest government figures have shown a recent increase in the numbers newly infected after more than fortnight of lower deaths and infections. Iran has been negotiating with the US over a prisoner swap and has been moving to slowly relax controls introduced as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Latest government figures have shown a recent increase in the numbers newly infected after more than fortnight of lower deaths and infections.
The Iranian government has probably been forced to relax its physical distancing guidelines faster than it might like due to the scale of poverty in the country. A government spokesman said it had chosen a scenario that was intended to lead to fewer than 10,000 deaths.The Iranian government has probably been forced to relax its physical distancing guidelines faster than it might like due to the scale of poverty in the country. A government spokesman said it had chosen a scenario that was intended to lead to fewer than 10,000 deaths.
A report issued on Sunday published by Mohammad Reza Yousefi, a professor of economics at Mofid University in Qom, showed 12 million working families did not have enough income, meaning nearly 45 million Iranians are in households in poverty.A report issued on Sunday published by Mohammad Reza Yousefi, a professor of economics at Mofid University in Qom, showed 12 million working families did not have enough income, meaning nearly 45 million Iranians are in households in poverty.