A11 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2019 US: Video shows Iran removing mine from tanker By JON GAMBRELL Associated Press that targeted four oil tankers off the nearby Emirati port of Fujairah. U.S. offi cials simi- larly accused Iran of using limpet mines. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. assessment of Iran’s involvement was based in part on intelligence, as well as the expertise needed for the operation. It was also based on recent incidents, including the Fujairah attack, he said. He also tied Iran to a drone attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on a crucial Saudi oil pipeline around the same time. “Taken as a whole, these unprovoked attacks present a clear threat to international peace and security, a blatant assault on the freedom of navigation and an unacceptable campaign of escalating tension by Iran,” Pompeo said. He didn’t elaborate. Iran also denied being involved in last month’s attacks. Its foreign minister ques- tioned the timing of Thursday’s incidents, given that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was meeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. Pompeo noted that Abe had asked Iran to enter into talks with Washington but Tehran “rejected” the overture. “The supreme leader’s government then insulted Japan by attacking a Japanese-owned oil tanker just outside Iranian waters, threat- ening the lives of the entire crew, creating a maritime emergency,” Pompeo added. On Friday, Abe condemned the attack as a threat to safe navigation. Abe told reporters he briefed Trump by phone on his trip to Iran but did not give details, except to say the president thanked him for trying to help de-escalate tensions in the region and that he planned to continue cooperating closely with the U.S. The U.N. Security Council held closed consultations on the tanker incidents late Thursday at the request of the U.S. but took no action. Tensions have risen as Iran appears poised to break the nuclear deal, which Trump repu- diated last year. In the deal, Tehran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of crippling sanctions. Now, Iran is threatening to resume enriching ura- nium closer to weapons-grade levels if Euro- pean nations don’t offer it new terms to the deal by July 7. Already, Iran says it quadrupled its pro- duction of low-enriched uranium. Mean- while, U.S. sanctions have cut off oppor- tunities for Iran to trade its excess uranium and heavy water abroad, putting Tehran on course to violate terms of the nuclear deal regardless. Tanker attacks in Strait of Hormuz DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The U.S. military released a video Friday it said showed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard remov- ing an unexploded limpet mine from one of the oil tankers targeted near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, suggesting Tehran wanted to hide evidence of its alleged involvement. Iran denied any role in Thursday’s appar- ent attacks, which have again roiled the Per- sian Gulf amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over the unraveling nuclear deal with world powers. Four other oil tankers off the nearby Emirati port city of Fujairah suffered sim- ilar attacks in recent weeks, and Iranian-al- lied rebels from Yemen have struck U.S. ally Saudi Arabia with drones and missiles. President Donald Trump withdrew Amer- ica last year from the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran reached with world powers and recently imposed a series of sanctions now squeezing its beleaguered economy and cutting deeply into its oil exports. While Iran maintains it has nothing to do with the recent attacks, its leaders repeatedly have threatened to close the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil fl ows. Iran accused Washington of waging an “Iranophobic campaign” against it, while Trump countered that the country was “a nation of terror.” “Iran did do it,” he said of the attack, in remarks Friday morning to “Fox & Friends.” Trump also warned Iran not to close off the strait, saying if it does so, it won’t be shut for long. The black-and-white U.S. video of the Ira- nians alongside the Japanese-owned tanker Kokuka Courageous came after its crew abandoned ship after seeing the undetonated explosive on its hull, said Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesman for the U.S. military’s Central Command. It separately shared photos of the vessel, which showed what appeared to be a conical limpet mine against its side. In the video, the boat from Iran’s paramil- itary Revolutionary Guard pulls alongside Kokuka Courageous at 4:10 p.m. Thursday. The Iranians reach up and grab along where the limpet mine could be seen in the photo. They then sail away. Limpet mines, which are magnetic and attach to a ship’s hull, are designed to disable a vessel without sinking it. Analysts say Iran, if involved, wouldn’t want investigators to fi nd an unexploded mine because they could check its serial Strait of Strait Hormuz of Hormuz IRAN June 13 attacks on two oil tankers Fujairah Dubai U.A.E. May 12 attacks on four oil tankers Gulf of Oman OMAN 30 miles ‘THE UNITED STATES HAS NO INTEREST IN ENGAGING IN A NEW CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. HOWEVER, WE WILL DEFEND OUR INTERESTS.’ Capt. Bill Urban | a spokesman for the U.S. military’s Central Command numbers and other attributes to trace it. “The U.S. and the international com- munity stand ready to defend our interests, including the freedom of navigation,” Urban said in a statement. “The United States has no interest in engaging in a new confl ict in the Middle East. However, we will defend our interests.” In a statement from its U.N. mission, Iran accused the U.S. of escalating tensions. “The U.S. economic war and terrorism against the Iranian people as well as its mas- sive 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 signifi cant threat to its peace and security,” the statement said. In Tokyo, the owner of the Kokuka Cou- rageous said its sailors saw “fl ying objects” before the attack, suggesting it wasn’t dam- Sanders leaving White House job, returning to Arkansas Agency recommends White House aide Conway be fi red Associated Press Associated Press WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, whose tenure was marked by a breakdown in regular press brief- ings and questions about the administration’s credibility, as well as her own, will leave her post at the end of the month, President Don- ald Trump announced. Trump said Thursday he’s encourag- ing her to run for governor when she returns home to Arkansas, where her father once held the job. Sanders is one of Trump’s closest and most trusted White House aides and one of the few remaining who worked on his campaign, tak- ing on the job of advocating for and defend- ing a president who had his own unconven- tional ideas about how to conduct the people’s business. At an unrelated White House event, Trump described Sanders as a “warrior” as he called her to the stage. Sanders, appear- ing emotional, said serving Trump has been “the honor of a lifetime” and pledged to remain one of his “most outspoken and loyal supporters.” Sanders, who is married and has three young children, later told reporters she wanted to spend more time with her family, but she did not rule out running for public offi ce. WASHINGTON — Taking unprece- dented action, a federal watchdog agency rec- ommended Thursday that President Donald Trump fi re one of his most ardent defenders, counselor Kellyanne Conway, for repeatedly violating a law that limits political activity by government workers. The U.S. Offi ce of Special Counsel, which is unrelated to special counsel Robert Muel- ler’s offi ce, said in a letter to Trump that Con- way has been a “repeat offender” of the Hatch Act by disparaging Democratic presiden- tial candidates while speaking in her offi cial capacity during television interviews and on social media. Federal law prohibits employees of the executive branch from using their offi cial authority or infl uence to affect the result of an election. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are exempt from the Hatch Act, but there are no exceptions for White House employees. The agency does not have the authority to fi re Conway, who was appointed by Trump, so it would be up to the president to follow its recommendation and dismiss one of his most unwavering defenders. Conway is known for her fi ery television appearances in support of the president and his policies. SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA TODAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY aged by mines. Company president Yutaka Katada offered no evidence for his claim, which contradicted the U.S. military account. Katada also said crew members saw an Iranian naval ship nearby, but did not specify whether this was before or after the attacks. The suspected attacks occurred at dawn Thursday about 25 miles off the southern coast of Iran. The Front Altair, loaded with naphtha from the United Arab Emirates, radi- oed for help as its cargo of fl ammable chem- icals caught fi re. The Kokuka Courageous, carrying methanol from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, called for help a short time later. The U.S. Navy sent the USS Bainbridge, which picked up 21 sailors from the Kokuka Courageous, and they stayed overnight on the destroyer, returning to their vessel Friday to help in it being towed. Thursday’s attack resembled one in May WHY TRAVEL? WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND PREDICTABLE SYSTEMS AVAILABLE! Klemp Family Dentistry offers Implants • CT scan • Same day dentures Guided implant placement Before implants All on 4 implant denture X-rays After implants and veneers KLEMP FAMILY DENTISTRY 1006 West Marine Drive, Astoria (503) 468-0116 www.klempfamilydentistry.com THURSDAY FRIDAY REGIONAL FORECAST Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Seattle 64 53 64 54 64 54 63 52 63 52 Low clouds may Clouds breaking Clouds and sun Mostly cloudy break Partly sunny 63 52 Partly sunny 65 52 Mostly cloudy Aberdeen Olympia 66/53 77/57 Wenatchee Tacoma Moses Lake 78/52 ALMANAC UNDER THE SKY TODAY'S TIDES Astoria through Thursday Tonight’s Sky: Today, the sun rises earliest at 5:21 a.m. PDT and sets at 9:01 p.m. PDT. Astoria / Port Docks Temperatures High/low ................................ 64/54 Normal high/low .................. 64/50 Record high .................. 78 in 1917 Record low .................... 41 in 2001 Precipitation Thursday ................................. Trace Month to date ........................ 0.42” Normal month to date ......... 1.30” Year to date .......................... 22.43” Normal year to date ........... 34.66” Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019 Time High (ft.) Time Low (ft.) 1:07 p.m. none 6.8 6:58 a.m. -0.9 6:41 p.m. 2.1 Cape Disappointment 12:56 p.m. 6.4 6:12 a.m. -1.1 none 5:53 p.m. 2.3 Source: Jim Todd, OMSI Hammond SUN AND MOON Sunrise today .................. 5:23 a.m. Sunset tonight ............... 9:09 p.m. Moonrise today ............. 7:36 p.m. Moonset today ............... 4:28 a.m. Full Last New First 1:03 p.m. none Warrenton 1:02 p.m. none July 9 7.2 6:42 a.m. -0.8 6:25 p.m. 2.2 Knappa 12:32 a.m. 9.1 7:59 a.m. -0.7 1:44 p.m. 7.1 7:42 p.m. 1.8 Depoe Bay June 17 June 25 July 2 7.0 6:30 a.m. -1.0 6:17 p.m. 2.3 12:11 p.m. 6.5 5:43 a.m. -1.2 11:27 p.m. 8.9 5:23 p.m. 2.5 City Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Honolulu Houston Los Angeles Miami New York City Phoenix San Francisco Wash., DC Sun. Hi/Lo/W 85/70/pc 81/66/s 73/60/t 92/74/pc 75/53/t 90/74/pc 93/79/pc 74/60/pc 86/76/t 82/68/s 103/78/s 69/56/pc 85/69/pc 89/71/pc 75/65/c 77/57/c 90/73/c 76/52/pc 90/74/pc 93/76/pc 73/60/pc 86/79/t 81/70/pc 104/79/s 70/56/s 87/73/pc Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice. 88/61 Hermiston The Dalles 90/59 Enterprise Pendleton 79/48 85/55 86/59 La Grande 82/51 81/52 NATIONAL CITIES Today Hi/Lo/W 80/54 Kennewick Walla Walla 86/60 Lewiston 91/57 76/53 Salem Pullman 89/56 Longview 64/53 Portland 81/57 84/60 Yakima 90/59 78/48 Astoria Spokane 89/62 Corvallis 81/50 Albany 80/52 John Day Eugene Bend 81/50 84/49 83/57 Ontario 90/58 Caldwell Burns 83/45 86/55 Medford 93/57 Klamath Falls 86/46 City Baker City Brookings Ilwaco Newberg Newport Today Hi/Lo/W 83/46/s 70/53/s 62/54/c 81/51/s 60/48/s Sun. Hi/Lo/W 86/53/pc 72/58/pc 62/55/pc 80/53/pc 60/50/pc City North Bend Roseburg Seaside Springfi eld Vancouver Today Hi/Lo/W 62/51/s 86/55/s 64/53/pc 81/52/s 79/54/pc Sun. Hi/Lo/W 62/52/pc 86/55/pc 64/54/pc 81/52/pc 78/55/pc