There is no real evidence that Iran is even considering taking such an action, but the US Maritime Administration issued a statement Friday claiming that it was possible Iran would attack commercial ships, maybe even oil tankers, in the waters around their country.



This is a continuation of US claims of an Iranian attack, which would be used to justify the ongoing US military buildup in the area. US ships, warplanes, and other assets continue to arrive in the region, so the excuses also continue.



Previously, the US narrative was built around Iran attacking US military targets. Those claims have been seriously questioned, with officials saying the administration deliberately exaggerated the intelligence.



Instead, officials are leaving those claims on the table, and throwing out new allegations of things Iran conceivably could do. More and more US forces are being thrown into the region, raising the risk that the US is going to talk itself into a war.





Author: Jason Ditz Jason Ditz is news editor of Antiwar.com. View all posts by Jason Ditz