Faulty reasoning signals

• Negativity Bias - 32.1%
• Appeal to Authority - 30.5%
• Burden of Proof - 17.3%

Article text

Welcome in. We begin [music] with breaking news in the Middle East. US Central Command says it is now launching a series of strikes against Iran after reportedly attacking three ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister says the military operations against Iran violate the memorandum of understanding and that Iran will take any action it deems necessary to safeguard national interests. CBS News Senior National Security Correspondent Charlie D'Agata joining us live now. So, Charlie, what

do we know about these latest strikes from both the US and Iran? >> Hey, Juliet. So, yes, I think we have to take that statement from Central Command seriously because of the wording that they used. Series of powerful strikes to impose heavy costs after what Iran has done. And now, in the past sort of 72 hours or so, depending on where your time clock is or 48 hours, Iran launched at least three attacks on commercial vessels exiting the Strait of Hormuz. They haven't come out and claimed any

credit for that [snorts] or responsibility for that. However, Iranian state media showed that one of those attacks had taken place. Now, after that happened on these three different vessels, that is when the United States decided that they wanted to retaliate. So, Central Command is the military organization in charge of that area of responsibility in the Middle East. We've been on onto them all day today to find out what was going to happen. And this is a pretty serious escalation because, you know, we've been

talking about this ceasefire for a number of weeks since it's gone into place. And there have been ceasefire violations from both sides, from Iran attacking commercial vessels, the United States then retaliating. This seems to be a a pretty serious and possibly the most serious escalation in terms of what the US military is doing in attacking these targets and we we expect to learn more. We might even see some video of what exactly has been targeted, but in the past they've gone against Iranian military positions along

the Strait of Hormuz, but this might be expanded to include other targets and that is what we would see as an escalation. Of course, the Iranians have said that this US retaliation is also a violation of the ceasefire. So, you know, we will have to see whether this is just a limited confrontation between Iran and the United States or whether this is going to escalate further. >> Okay, so Iran also taking issue with the US revoking a license that allowed Iran to sell oil. So, what are the details

there? >> Well, I have to point out that that actually came first. So, the the Trump administration revoked Iran's ability to sell Iranian oil, which was a sort of waiver and even that was described as a temporary waiver under this MOU, memorandum of understanding. So, that came first and the Iranians said, "Well, wait, that's a violation too of the agreement that we already had in place." It was after that that we saw the military action from Central Command. And I have to say, you know, we've been

speaking to our sources at Central Command and at the Pentagon, those military assets that have been there sort of pre-war, if you like, or pre-conflict with Iran are still in place. Now, how do you enforce how you're going to take away the right for Iran to sell oil? Does that mean that we're going to see a return to that blockade? As I said, those military assets, the aircraft carrier, the Abraham Lincoln, a number of destroyers, the cruise missiles, the heavy air assets are all in place. There hasn't

been any kind of pullback or withdrawal or retreat, even though the supposed ceasefire has been in place. So, this could restart militarily at any point and both sides are prepared to do that. I also have to say that the Iranians are very, very good at reconstituting their air defenses and their missile launch capabilities. So, as as as soon as those guns go quiet, they're moving them around again and they're moving their missile launchers and this is based on US and Israeli intelligence

that any kind of pause in fighting, certainly from the Iranian side, is a a chance to reposition and reload for whatever the next round may be. >> All right, Charlie D'Agata. Charlie, thank you.