Iran ceasefire tested as cargo ship catches fire after being hit off Qatar’s coast: NPR

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A cargo ship caught fire Sunday after being hit by an unknown projectile off Qatar’s coast, the British army stated, within the newest assault on vessels within the Persian Gulf since a shaky ceasefire stopped combating between the US and Iran.

The Trump administration says the month-old ceasefire stays in impact. But it has been repeatedly tested with Iran limiting visitors by way of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway key to the worldwide stream of oil, and the US imposing a blockade of Iranian ports.

Washington has been awaiting Iran’s response to a brand new proposal for a deal to finish the struggle, reopen the strait to transport and roll again Iran’s nuclear program.

One of the principle sticking factors within the negotiations is the destiny of Iran’s stockpile of extremely enriched uranium. The UN nuclear company says Iran has greater than 440 kilograms (970 kilos) of uranium that’s enriched as much as 60% purity, a brief, technical step from weapons-grade ranges.

In an interview with Iranian state media, a spokesperson for the Iranian army stated that forces had been on “full readiness” to guard nuclear websites the place the uranium is saved.

“We considered it possible that they might intend to steal it through infiltration operations or heliborne operations,” Brig. Gen. Akrami Nia instructed the IRNA information company late Saturday. He did not provide additional particulars.

The majority of Iran’s extremely enriched uranium is probably going nonetheless at its Isfahan nuclear advanced, the top of the UN nuclear company instructed The Associated Press final month.

The Isfahan facility was bombarded by US-Israeli airstrikes within the 12-day struggle final 12 months, and confronted much less intense assaults on this 12 months’s struggle.

In Sunday’s naval assault, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center stated that the strike brought on a small fire on the ship, which was extinguished. The assault occurred 23 nautical miles (43 kilometers) northeast of Qatar’s capital, Doha, the UKMTO stated.

There had been no reported casualties, it stated. It gave no particulars on the proprietor or origin of the ship, and there was no declare of accountability.

But there have been a number of assaults towards ships within the Persian Gulf over the previous week. On Friday, the US struck two Iranian oil tankers after it stated that the vessels had been making an attempt to breach its blockade of Iran’s ports.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy on Sunday reiterated its warning that any assault on Iranian oil tankers or industrial vessels can be met with a “heavy assault” on one of many US bases within the area and enemy ships.

US President Donald Trump has reiterated threats to renew full-scale bombing, if Iran doesn’t settle for an settlement to reopen the strait and roll again its nuclear program. Iran has largely blocked the important waterway for international vitality since joint strikes on Feb. 28 by the US and Israel launched the struggle, which has brought on a worldwide spike in gas costs and rattling world markets.