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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2019)
A3 THE ASTORIAN • SATuRdAy, July 20, 2019 British say Iran seizes 2 vessels in Strait of Hormuz By GREGORY KATZ, ROBERT BURNS and AMIR VAHDAT Associated Press LONDON — Britain’s foreign secretary said Ira- nian authorities seized two vessels Friday in the Strait of Hormuz, actions signaling intensifying tensions in the strategic waterway that has become a flashpoint between Tehran and the West. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said one of the seized ships was British-flagged and the other sailed under Liberia’s flag. Iran’s semi-of- ficial Fars news agency tweeted shortly after Hunt’s statement that the second tanker had left Iranian water. “These seizures are unac- ceptable,” Hunt said as he prepared to enter an emer- gency government meeting Friday night. “It is essential that freedom of navigation is maintained and that all ships can move safely and freely in the region.” The seizing of the British tanker marked perhaps the most significant escalation since tensions between Iran and the West began rising in May. At that time, the U.S. announced it was dispatch- ing an aircraft carrier and additional troops to the Per- sian Gulf, citing unspecified threats posed by Iran. The ongoing showdown has caused jitters around the globe, amid fears that any misunderstanding or misstep by either side could lead to war. President Donald Trump said U.S. officials would talk with Britain about the unfolding crisis. “This only goes to show what I’m saying about Iran: Trouble, nothing but trou- ble,” he said. Trump said “Iran is show- ing their colors” and “in big Labor nominee Scalia has a long record of opposing federal regulations great experience” working “with labor and everyone else,” Trump wrote. Scalia, 55, served for a year as the Labor Depart- WASHINGTON — ment’s top lawyer, its solic- Eugene Scalia has a itor, during the George W. decades-long record of Bush administration. But challenging Labor Depart- most of his career has been ment and other federal spent as a partner in the regulations, as well as a Washington office of the famous last name. The Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher combination proved irre- firm, where he has run up sistible to President Donald a string of victories in court Trump. cases on behalf of business Trump selected Sca- interests challenging labor lia Thursday to be his new and financial regulations. “Suing the Govern- labor secretary. ment? Call Scalia!” If formally nom- inated and con- was the headline on firmed, he’ll join a 2012 profile by Bloomberg. an administration His most prom- that has moved inent labor case aggressively to helped undo an reverse regulations Eugene Obama-era rule to and work under a Scalia put stricter require- president who had ments on pro- repeatedly lauded Scalia’s late father, Justice fessionals who advise retirement savers on Antonin Scalia. The president investments. He also criti- announced the news on cized a Clinton-era rule to Twitter less than a week protect workers from repet- after his previous secre- itive stress injuries that was tary, Alexander Acosta, ultimately repealed early said he would resign amid in the Bush administra- renewed criticism of how, tion. Scalia defended Boe- as a federal prosecutor, he ing from a labor union law- handled a 2008 secret plea suit and fought on behalf of deal with wealthy finan- Walmart against a Mary- cier Jeffrey Epstein. The land law aimed at improv- financier was indicted this ing workers’ health care. Scalia represented the month on charges of sexu- ally abusing underage girls Chamber of Commerce and pleaded not guilty. opposing rules requiring Friday was Acosta’s last mutual fund companies to day on the job. His deputy, put independent overseers Patrick Pizzella, will serve on their boards of direc- as acting secretary until tors, and insurance compa- nies challenging the SEC’s Scalia is confirmed. “Gene has led a life of authority to regulate certain great success in the legal annuities with values tied and labor field and is highly to stocks. Annuities are a respected not only as a law- sort of hybrid of insurance yer, but as a lawyer with and investments. By MARK SHERMAN, KEVIN FREKING and JILL COLVIN Associated Press Basil M. Karatzas/Karatzas Images The British oil tanker Stena Impero is believed to have been captured by Iran. trouble right now” because its economy has been crip- pled by U.S. economic sanctions. The U.S. has asked Mid- east allies like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emir- ates in past weeks to contrib- ute financially and militar- ily to a Trump administration declared. A statement from Stena Bulk, which owns the tanker, said it was unable to con- tact the ship after it was approached by unidentified vessels and a helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz. The company said the tanker, with 23 crew mem- ‘THIS ONly GOES TO SHOW WHAT I’M SAyING ABOuT IRAN: TROuBlE, NOTHING BuT TROuBlE.’ President Donald Trump proposal called the Senti- nel Program — a coalition of nations working with the U.S. to preserve maritime security in the Persian Gulf and keep eyes on Iran. Details of what took place remained sketchy. Iran said earlier Friday that it had seized a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, The tanker Stena Impero was taken to an Iranian port because it was not comply- ing with “international mar- itime laws and regulations,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guard bers aboard, was in interna- tional waters when it was approached but subsequently appeared to be heading toward Iran. U.K. Chamber of Ship- ping chief executive Bob Sanguinetti said the seizure represented an escalation in tensions in the Persian Gulf and made it clear more pro- tection for merchant vessels was urgently needed. He claimed the action is “in violation of interna- tional regulations which pro- tect ships and their crews as they go about their legitimate business in international waters.” The British government should do “whatever is nec- essary” to ensure the safe and swift return of the ship’s crew, Sanguinetti said. The strategically vital Strait of Hormuz is at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and serves as the passage- way for one-fifth of all global crude exports. Crude oil prices climbed following Iran’s announce- ment as traders worried the escalating tensions could affect crude supplies. The price of oil was lower earlier in the day. U.S. stocks also fell as traders sold to avoid holding stocks into the week- end. The S&P 500 dropped 0.6% Friday after being up 0.4% in the morning. The incident came just two days after Washington claimed that a U.S. warship downed an Iranian drone in the Strait. Iran denied that it lost an aircraft in the area. On June 20, Iran shot down an American drone in the same waterway, and Trump came close to retaliat- ing but called off an airstrike at the last moment. Hay Just Met Its Match! 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