The U.S. Central Command released a video allegedly showing an Iranian boat at the side of one of the tankers that was struck in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday.
What are the key indicators that this is really an Iranian boat?
The type of boat shown in the video has similar features to a boat that was displayed in a ceremony on March 2016 where Rear Adm. Ali Fadavi, the commander of IRGC Navy, was present. The Press TV article from 2016 covers Iran’s ambition to build a “fast battle ships cruising at 80 knots p/h."
Several shapes and features of the boat displayed at this ceremony are similar to the features on the boat in the CENTCOM video.
The bow has a distinct chevron pattern on the bow in a 2016 photo. In the CENTCOM video a similar pattern can be seen on the boat.
The cage around the bridge of the boat has the same shape in both the Press TV and CENTCOM video
Both boats show a similar shape in the front part of the hull under the spray rail.
The boat shown in the Press TV article has two Soviet made ZU 23 anti-aircraft twin-barreled cannons, with one mounted on the stern and one on the bow. The boat in the CENTCOM video only has the gun mounted on bow.
According to CENTCOM the video shows the crew of the boat " removing the unexploded limpet mine from the M/T Kokuka Courageous."
Iran has denied any responsibility for the attack.
Watch: US CENTCOM video:
