President Trump claimed to have approved the attack but then withdrawn the order “10 minutes before the strike”.
BAHRAIN
While the Iranian ship held in Gibraltar has since been released, the Stena Impero and its crew remain in Iranian detention.
The US has committed two warships to escort tankersthrough the Strait. It is asking allies to join the convoy.
IRAQ
On July 20th, following UK seizure of an Iranian ship suspected to be carrying oil to Syria, Iranian forces seized the UK flagged tanker Stena Impero.
The UK has confirmed it will also provide two ships for the mission.
So what does this mean for Australia?
And now the Morrison government has confirmed Australia will join them, pledging a warship, surveillance aircraft and about 200 troops.
An investigation by the three countries, led by the UAE, found it was likely mines were used and that it was  a sophisticated attack designed to damage the ships but not sink them or detonate their cargo.
The legal problem for Australia and its allies is the idea of a naval convoy is considered an act of warfare, which means Iran could consider it an unlawful act of force within its waters.
While the report did not name Iran, it concluded the attack would likely have to be the work of a state actor.
IRAN
On June 13th, two commercial tankers were attacked within an hour of each other.
OMAN
To avoid an escalation to armed conflict, the ships would need to claim they were simply exercising their navigational rights within the Strait.
As the bordering states, Iran and Oman have sovereignty over the waters in the Strait...
But the step-up in presence  – and the potential  for conflict – means Australia’s decision to become involved is significant.
And it’s this free flow of shipping that is  the primary concern as the relationship between the US and Iran becomes more fraught.
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Gulf of Oman
On May 12th 2019, 4 commercial ships were damaged in the Gulf of Oman.
The Strait is a narrow body of water connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
The US military declared the ships – two of which were  Saudi tankers, one a Norwegian tanker and the other a UAE tanker – were likely attacked by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or Iranian proxy forces.
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At its narrowest point, it is only 39km wide.
1/5th of the world’s oil is shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.
Crew on one of the ships claimed to have seen a torpedo before an explosion, and the US military released drone footage which appears to show IRGC ships removing unexploded mines from the othership later on the same day. 
That’s about 17.4 million barrels per day.
But all other states have navigation rights – which means they can move freely through the shipping lanes without interference from either Iran or Oman.
On June 20th, the IRGC shot down a US surveillance drone, which it claims was in its territorial waters (22km from the shore).
US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, blamed Iran for the attacks on the same day.
The US claims its drone was outside of Iranian territory.
The UK, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Germany and Norway allbacked the US version of events by the end of June. Japan said it would wait until more evidencewas available – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was actually in Iran on the day of the attack.
Iran released footage of IRGC commandos being helicoptered onto the deck.It claims the ship collided with a fishing boat as justification for the seizure.
This is the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian claim: 15.3km from coast
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Iran rejected any claims it was responsible and toldthe UN it believed the attacks were “false flag” operations designed to increase US presence in the region.
OMAN
US claim: 32km from coast
U.A.E
Persian Gulf
SAUDI ARABIA
Following a tweet from President Trump and meetings with advisors, a retaliatory military strike was reportedly planned by the US.
QATAR
The ship was taken to the port of Bandar Abbas, and its 23 crew members were detained.
KUWAIT
The US has committed two warships to escort tankers through the Strait. It is asking allies to join the convoy.
On June 13th, two commercial tankers were attacked within an hour of each other.
To avoid an escalation to armed conflict, the ships would need to claim they were simply exercising their navigational rights within the Strait.
An investigation by the three countries, led by the UAE, found it was likely mines were used and that it was a sophisticated attack designed to damage the ships but not sink them or detonate their cargo.
Crew on one of the ships claimed to have seen a torpedo before an explosion, and the US military released drone footage which appears to show IRGC ships removing unexploded mines from the othership later on the same day. 
The legal problem for Australia and its allies is the idea of a naval convoy is considered an act of warfare, which means Iran could consider it an unlawful act of force within its waters.
While the report did not name Iran, it concluded the attack would likely have to be the work of a state actor.
The US military declared the ships – two of which were Saudi tankers, one a Norwegian tanker and the other a UAE tanker – were likely attacked by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or Iranian proxy forces.
But all other states have navigation rights – which means they can move freely through the shipping lanes without interference from either Iran or Oman.
On June 20th, the IRGC shot down a US surveillance drone, which it claims was in its territorial waters (22km from the shore).
Iran rejected any claims it was responsible and toldthe UN it believed the attacks were “false flag” operations designed to increase US presence in the region.
President Trump claimed to have approved the attack but then withdrawn the order “10 minutes before the strike”.
The UK, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Germany and Norway all backed the US version of events by the end of June. Japan said it would wait until more evidencewas available – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was actually in Iran on the day of the attack.
On July 20th, following UK seizure of an Iranian ship suspected to be carrying oil to Syria, Iranian forces seized the UK flagged tanker Stena Impero.
Following a tweet from President Trump and meetings with advisors, a retaliatory military strike was reportedly planned by the US.
Crew on one of the ships claimed to have seen a torpedo before an explosion, and the US military released drone footage which appears to show IRGC ships removing unexploded mines from the other ship later on the same day. 
An investigation by the three countries, led by the UAE, found it was likely mines were used and that it was a sophisticated attack designed to damage the ships but not sink them or detonate their cargo.
Crew on one of the ships claimed to have seen a torpedo before an explosion, and the US military released drone footage which appears to show IRGC ships removing unexploded mines from the othership later on the same day. 
To avoid an escalation to armed conflict, the ships would need to claim they were simply exercising their navigational rights within the Strait.
The US military declared the ships – two of which were Saudi tankers, one a Norwegian tanker and the other a UAE tanker – were likely attacked by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or Iranian proxy forces.
President Trump claimed to have approved the attack but then withdrawn the order “10 minutes before the strike”.
Iran rejected any claims it was responsible and told the UN it believed the attacks were “false flag” operations designed to increase US presence in the region.
The US has committed two warships to escort tankers through the Strait. It is asking allies to join the convoy.
The UK has confirmed it will also provide two ships for the mission.
Following a tweet from President Trump and meetings with advisors, a retaliatory military strike was reportedly planned by the US.