The Dossier: Signs point to Iran behind Gulf ship attacks

Assessment: Iran’s IRGC likely organized Gulf oil tanker attacks 

Reuters reports that Iran is the likely culprit behind recent attacks on vessels belonging to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

According to the report:

“A confidential assessment issued this week by the Norwegian Shipowners’ Mutual War Risks Insurance Association (DNK) concluded that the attack was likely to have been carried out by a surface vessel operating close by that despatched underwater drones carrying 30-50 kg (65-110 lb) of high-grade explosives to detonate on impact.”

The U.S. has sent more military resources into the region to protect our interests and allies. Iran has repeatedly threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil is transported.

Following Huawei blacklisting, US-China trade talks come to crashing halt

The tit-for-tat trade war between the United States and China appears to have no end in sight. For now, the two parties are not even meeting to discuss trade negotiations, CBS News reports.

The Trump adminstration’s decision to ban Chinese telecom giant Huawei, citing espionage concerns, has caused an uproar in Beijing.

China foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a news briefing Friday, following the news of Huawei’s banishment:

“Because of certain things the U.S. side has done during the previous China-U.S. trade consultations, we believe if there is meaning for these talks, there must be a show of sincerity."

On Thursday, Huawei was blacklisted from doing business in the United States. Independent security experts have alleged that the company installs hidden back doors in its equipment that help the government of China commit espionage. 

Terror group Hamas thanks Britain’s Jeremy Corbyn for his support

The Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas took to social media to thank British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, the head of the British Labour Party, for his support. Corbyn, who seeks to become prime minister of the United Kingdom, has repeatedly engaged in overt Jew-hatred, along with several members of his far-left but mainstream British party.

North Korea suffering from worst drought in decades

Central planning sucks. And that’s why the Stalinist regime in North Korean is once again presided over a massive drought. The regime in Pyongyang blames a lack of sufficient rainfall, leaving millions of North Koreans in dire straits. Additionally, a U.N. report released this month found that some 10 million North Koreans are suffering from “severe food shortages.”

Inspector general report on FISA abuses expected soon

DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz is expected soon to release his report on abuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which was used to spy on Trump associates and campaign officials.

Senators and influential commentators in the president’s orbit have hinted that the report is complete and will soon be made available to the public, following its dissemination to Congress.

Author’s note: This post originally appeared in Blaze Media’s The Dossier newsletter. For foreign policy news and views delivered to your inbox twice a week, subscribe here.

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