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!
M7060
L2501HST
BX1880
†
• 16.6 Gross HP, 3-Cylinder Kubota Diesel Engine
• 4WD with Rear Differential Lock Standard
• Category I, 3-Point Hitch
• Performance-Matched Implements Available
†
• 24.8 Gross HP, 3-Cylinder Kubota Diesel Engine
• 4WD
• Hydrostatic Transmission (HST)
• Performance-Matched Implements Available
DM1022 **
M5660SU
• 56 Gross HP † @ 2,600 RPM, 4-Cylinder
Kubota Diesel Engine
• Fully Synchronized, Hydraulic Shuttle Transmission
• State-Of-The-Art External Hydraulic
Cylinders Improve Lifting Power
• 7’ 2” Cutting Width • 3’ 9” Transport Width
• Fully Welded Cutterbar with Overlapping
C-Channels for a Stiff, Strong, Durable
Construction and Low Maintenance
• Flexible Suspension Well
• 74.3 Gross HP, † 4-Cylinder Kubota Diesel Engine
• 2WD or 4WD
• Fully Synchronized, Hydraulic Shuttle Transmission
• Performance-Matched Implements Available
BV4160 PREMIUM
• Variable Chamber Round Baler
• Bale Diameter of 4’ Wide by 5’ High
with a 79” Pickup Capacity
• Effi cient Fork Feeder Intake System
$0 DOWN, 0% A.P.R. FINANCING FOR UP TO 60 MONTHS *
ON SELECT NEW KUBOTAS!
watkinstractor.com
501 S. PACIFIC AVE • KELSO, WA • (360) 423-7220 • 800-858-7220
100 PORT AVE • SAINT HELENS, OR • (503) 397-1012 • 800-606-1012
*$0 Down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 60 months on purchases of select new Kubota BX, B, L, MX and M, MH(M7), RB, DMC, DM, RA and TE Series equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock
inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Example: 60 monthly payments of $16.67 per $1,000 financed.
Offer expires 8/31/19. See us or go to KubotaUSA.com for more information. **DM1024 shown as example only. †For complete warranty, safety and product information, consult your local Kubota dealer
and the product operator’s manual. Power (HP/KW) and other specifications are based on various standards or recommended practices. K1339-24-Astoria Daily Astorian-1