Latest news with #JonathanSaul
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Iran to send Russia launchers for short-range missiles, sources say
By Jonathan Landay and Jonathan Saul WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) - Iran is preparing to deliver in the near future launchers for short-range ballistic missiles that the U.S. said Tehran sent to Russia last year for use against Ukraine, according to two Western security officials and a regional official. The delivery of the Fath-360 launchers - if it occurs - would help support Russia's grinding assault on its neighbor and reaffirm the deepening security ties between Moscow and Tehran. With a 75-mile (120-km) range, the Fath-360 would give Moscow's forces a new weapon to fire at Ukrainian frontline troops, nearby military targets, and population centers close to the border with Russia, analysts said. The U.S. last September said that Iran delivered the missiles to Russia on nine Russian-flagged ships - which it sanctioned - and three sources told Reuters at that time that the launchers were not included. The Western security officials and the regional official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the delivery of the Fath-360 launchers was imminent. They declined to provide further details of the pending transfer, including why they thought the launchers were not delivered with the missiles. Russia's defense ministry and Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The U.S. National Security Council referred inquiries to the State Department, which did not respond immediately. The CIA declined comment. Russia and Iran have previously denied that Tehran had shipped the missiles or any other arms to aid the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that Moscow launched in February 2022. U.S., Ukrainian and European officials say Iran has provided Russia thousands of drones and artillery shells. In an apparent reference to the Fath-360s, U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli, the commander of U.S. Central Command, last month told U.S. lawmakers that Iran had donated to Russia more than 400 short-range ballistic missiles. There have been no public reports of Iran transferring any other kinds of short-range ballistic missiles to Moscow or of Russian forces using the Fath-360. POSSIBLE COMPLICATION FOR PEACE TALKS Russia's deployment of the missiles could complicate U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to arrange a ceasefire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia and to strike a separate deal with Iran to curb its nuclear program. The regional official said that the indirect U.S.-Iran nuclear talks mediated by Oman are among "several reasons" for the delayed delivery of the launchers. The talks have encountered turbulence, although Iran on Friday said it agreed to hold a fourth round in Oman on Sunday. Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said that Iranian officials would consider the issue of sending arms to Russia as separate from the nuclear talks. "That the Iranians are negotiating on nuclear issues with the U.S. will not be seen as connected to what they might do in collaboration with the Russians," he said. Analysts said there could have been another complication: Iran had to modify European-made commercial trucks on which to mount the launchers for its own Fath-360 arsenal, and it may have had to do the same for Russia given its massive losses of vehicles in Ukraine. With the launchers, Russia will be able to increase pressure on Ukraine, said the experts. "It would be much easier (for Russian forces) to launch a strike much faster ... against high-value targets," said Fabian Hinz, a research fellow with the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "They (Fath-360s) don't need a lot of launch preparations. Their flight time is incredibly short." Deploying the Fath-360 could allow Russia to reserve its more advanced missiles, like the Iskander, for longer-range strikes at critical infrastructure, including the power grid, straining Ukraine's precious missile defenses, the analysts said. The Fath-360 "is designed to be handled and operated by people with relatively little training," said Ralph Savelsberg, an associate professor at the Netherlands Defense Academy. "Why would they (Russia) buy inferior Iranian missiles? The only reason I could think of is that they cannot produce a sufficient number of their own missiles," he said. "They're not super accurate and they don't carry a very large payload. But it just adds to Ukraine's headaches."
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive-US considering new ship registry in US Virgin Islands, sources say
By Jonathan Saul and Jarrett Renshaw WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration is considering a proposal to create an international shipping registry in the U.S. Virgin Islands as part of efforts to enlarge the tiny commercial shipping fleet flying the American flag, according to four sources familiar with the matter. Increasing the number of U.S.-flagged vessels is important for Trump's administration because it would enhance the ability of the U.S. commercial shipping fleet to provide logistical support for the military in time of war, and ease Washington's dependence on foreign ships to transport supplies and equipment across sea lanes. The U.S.-flagged fleet currently numbers around 187 vessels, of which only 80 are involved in international trade. This contrasts with at least 5,500 of vessels under China's control, according to industry estimates and assessments from U.S. lawmakers. The U.S. flag registry has struggled to attract ship owners for decades due to higher costs, a bigger tax burden and multiple requirements such as having a crew of U.S. citizens. China has become the world's top shipbuilding and shipping nation with 230 times more shipbuilding capacity than the U.S., a congressional report showed last year. Using the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) could be the most efficient way to "strengthen American maritime posture" because the island territory could provide a U.S.-controlled flag without the costly restrictions associated with a straight U.S. flag registration, according to Eric Dawicki, president of the Center for Ocean Policy and Economics (COPE) research body, which submitted the proposal to U.S. officials. All commercial ships must be registered, or flagged, with a particular country or jurisdiction to comply with safety and environmental rules. A U.S. official said the proposal had been submitted to the National Security Council, adding it was unclear on the status. Another U.S. official confirmed that the National Security Council was aware of the proposal. White House and USVI officials did not respond to requests for comment. In previous conflicts, such as the 1991 Gulf War, the U.S. relied upon foreign-flagged vessels to bolster shipping access. "The ongoing reliance on voluntary charter arrangements with foreign-flagged vessels to supplement America's sealift capacity poses a strategic vulnerability to U.S. maritime interests," said COPE's Dawicki, a U.S. maritime industry veteran who co-founded the Dominica flag registry. While some lawmakers support the idea of a U.S. Virgin Islands registry, the proposal is likely to face opposition from unions and others keen for a revival in domestic shipbuilding. "The USVI is an alternative, but it probably will not get much support with the drive to enlarge the U.S. fleet," said Salvatore Mercogliano, associate professor of history at North Carolina's Campbell University and adjunct professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. NATIONAL FLAG The majority of U.S.-flagged ships operate under a century-old regulation called the Jones Act. That law requires that U.S.-flagged vessels be built in the U.S., employ a U.S. crew, and be owned by an American individual or entity. Those requirements were meant to help U.S. shipowners but they ultimately limited growth of the U.S. fleet, said Basil Karatzas, U.S.-based consultant with shipping specialists Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co. "As a national flag, it can never compete on cost with foreign nationals' labor." Unlike with the U.S.-flag, which is vetted by the U.S. Coast Guard, the USVI authority would administer and regulate an international registry that imposes fewer requirements, according to COPE. The vessels, for example, could be foreign built and crewed by non-U.S. nationals, it said. The U.S. Coast Guard and union officials did not respond to requests for comment. During World War II, the U.S. Merchant Marine - a civilian organization of the commercial fleet - played a vital role in defeating the Axis powers, with over 10,000 ocean-going vessels involved in operations, according to U.S. data. The U.S. fleet current represents under 1% of global shipping by value, separate U.S. data showed. The idea to create an international flag in the USVI was first discussed by industry officials and COPE in 2022 although it was not submitted to the previous administration under former President Joe Biden, COPE said. Trump's administration is pushing for a regeneration of U.S. shipbuilding as well as attracting more ships to the U.S. flag registry. There are around 20 shipyards in the U.S. - many ageing and in need of major investment, down sharply from over 80 at the end of World War II, according to U.S. lawmakers. On April 30, U.S. Congress members from both parties launched the SHIPS for America bill that seeks to bolster and secure consistent funding for the U.S. maritime industry. Dawicki said a USVI registry would complement the SHIPS Act, "without affecting cabotage (coast to coast shipping) or the Jones Act". Senator Todd Young's office, one of the lawmakers involved in the bill, did not respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Seafarers stranded off Yemen port eye exit after US-Houthi ceasefire deal
By Jonathan Saul and Mohammed Ghobari ADEN (Reuters) - Some 200 seafarers aboard more than 15 ships stuck for weeks off Yemen's port of Ras Isa are preparing to offload cargoes and leave thanks to a ceasefire deal between Houthi militia and the U.S., maritime and labour union sources said on Thursday. Still, threat levels for shipping remained high given the Houthis' confirmation that Israeli-related assets remained open to attack and the attendant risks to broader shipping, maritime officials said. Ships with no connection to Israel had been targeted in the past with no certainty of safe passage. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the U.S. would stop bombing the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen as they had agreed to stop targeting U.S. ships in Red Sea waters off the Arabian Peninsula country. However, the deal does not cover close U.S. ally Israel, the Houthis stated on Wednesday, suggesting its attacks on shipping in professed solidarity with Palestinian militants fighting Israel in Gaza might not come to a complete halt. A nearly two-month-long U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen dealt heavy damage to the Houthis, with a spillover impact on shipping in the Ras Isa region on the Red Sea, a critical artery for world trade. Several crew members on ships in the vicinity of U.S. air strikes were injured, and two vessels prevented from sailing away by Houthis, according to the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), the biggest seafarers' union. A Houthi official told Reuters that following the agreement with Washington, ships should now be able to enter Ras Isa, discharge cargoes and depart without issues. At least one of the vessels - mainly tankers carrying fuel supplies including liquefied petroleum gas - was moving into the port to begin discharging cargo on Thursday, according to ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform. NO GUARANTEE OF SAFE PASSAGE While the risk of collateral damage from airstrikes has abated, seafarers remained concerned about Israeli attacks on Houthi targets in the region. In response to Houthi drones launched at Israel over the past week, Israeli warplanes hit the major Yemeni Red Sea port of Hodeidah, causing some damage, shipping sources said. Some of the vessels stuck have been waiting for weeks to discharge in Ras Isa and were urgently seeking to leave the area, the captain of one of the vessels, who declined to be identified due to the sensitive situation, told Reuters. "The ITF is working urgently to support these crews, but they need more than words; they need safe passage home," ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton said. The Houthis have carried out more than 100 attacks on ships plying the Red Sea since November 2023, saying they were acting in support of Palestinians in Israeli-besieged Gaza. They have sunk two vessels, seized one and killed at least four seafarers. There have been no known attacks since January this year. Many shipping companies have halted voyages through the Red Sea amid uncertainty over whether the ceasefire deal will stick. "We do not send ships in until we are sure that the people on board are safe," Lasse Kristoffersen, CEO with shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen, told Reuters on Thursday. "We have no information at this time to suggest that."
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US exits carbon talks on shipping, urges others to follow
By Jonathan Saul and Michelle Nichols LONDON (Reuters) -The United States has withdrawn from talks in London looking at advancing decarbonisation in the shipping sector and Washington will consider "reciprocal measures" to offset any fees charged to U.S. ships, a diplomatic note said. Delegates are at the UN shipping agency's headquarters this week for negotiations over decarbonisation measures aimed at enabling the global shipping industry to reach net zero by "around 2050". An initial proposal by a bloc of countries including the European Union, that was submitted to the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO), had sought to reach agreement for the world's first carbon levy for shipping on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. "The U.S. rejects any and all efforts to impose economic measures against its ships based on GHG emissions or fuel choice," according to a diplomatic demarche sent to ambassadors by the United States. "For these reasons the U.S. is not engaging in negotiations at the IMO 3rd Marine Environment Protection Committee from 7-11 April and urges your government to reconsider its support for the GHG emissions measures under consideration." It was not clear how many of the IMO's 176-member countries received the note. "Should such a blatantly unfair measure go forward, our government will consider reciprocal measures so as to offset any fees charged to U.S. ships and compensate the American people for any other economic harm from any adopted GHG emissions measures," the note from Washington said. Washington also opposed "any proposed measure that would fund any unrelated environmental or other projects outside the shipping sector", the note added. U.S. officials in Washington did not immediately comment when contacted late on Tuesday. The IMO had not yet received any communication, an IMO spokesperson said on Wednesday. Shipping, which transports around 90% of world trade and accounts for nearly 3% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions, has faced calls from environmentalists and investors to deliver more concrete action, including a carbon levy.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive-US considers adjusting port fee plan for Chinese vessels after pushback, sources say
By Jonathan Saul and Renee Maltezou LONDON/ATHENS (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration is considering softening its proposed fee on China-linked ships visiting U.S. ports after a flood of negative feedback from industries that said the idea could be economically devastating, according to six sources. Among the changes under consideration are delayed implementation and new fee structures designed to reduce the overall cost to visiting Chinese vessels, according to the six sources with knowledge of the matter. The sources asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue. The White House and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the government department involved in the drafting the proposal, did not respond to requests for comment. Not all of the agency's proposed multimillion-dollar fees for Chinese-built ships to dock at U.S. ports will be implemented and may not be cumulative, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday. The USTR has proposed that fees that could top $3 million per U.S. port call for China-built or linked vessels. The USTR's proposal came after it completed an investigation into China's maritime sector and development plans that began in April 2024. Trump's administration argues that fees would curb China's growing commercial and military dominance on the high seas and promote the U.S. domestic maritime industry. But representatives from numerous industries, from coal to agriculture, argued during public hearings last month that the fee proposal could make it impossible to ship everything from coal to soybeans to market because of the prevalence of Chinese-linked vessels in the existing global shipping fleet, and the time it would take to replace them. The administration was also thinking about changes to the fees to make them less onerous and reduce their impact on U.S. businesses, all six of the sources said. Among options the administration was considering is charging a fee that is adjusted based on the number of Chinese-built ships in a company's fleet, one source said. That would mean lower fees for those companies with fewer ships built in China. The administration was also mulling a charge based on the tonnage of unloaded vessels rather than a flat fee, two of the sources said. This would mean lower fees for smaller ships, rather than flat fees for all vessels. That might ease the burden on ship owners with smaller vessels involved in niche trades such as transporting grains or other commodities. The USTR had formulated the fee proposal with larger container ships that transport retail goods in mind, the sources said. The impact on commodities flows had not been fully considered, they said. "The most impacted sectors are container shipping and car carriers, given their consolidated nature, and high proportion of payable fees under the proposed framework," Jefferies analyst Omar Nokta wrote in an April 2 note. "However, all shipping segments would be affected, given the level of disruption likely to take place as operators shift vessels to minimize exposure to U.S. fees."
