Iranian Provocations Unwarranted or a Sign of US Weakness?
I guess offloading a boatload of cash, which allows them to pursue their nuclear program, and being complicit with the capture of US Sailors wasn’t enough for the Iranians. Now they’re getting even more frisky with a longstanding game they have played with US ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz (SOH) and operating in the Northern Persian Gulf. And, this time, it’s getting increasingly serious.
When I was in the Navy and working in the Persian Gulf, the transit through the SOH was always a concern for me.
Not only did I have to ensure that we didn’t run aground or collide with anything (either would be bad), but I also had to make sure we had folks taking imagery and audio recordings of the generally aggressive nature of Iranian patrol craft during our transits and send this imagery off to 5th Fleet. We also always had to tell the Iranians to basically “back off” when they queried us of our intentions. It went something like, “This is a United States Warship exercising its right of international passage…go away.”
Much like this:
I experienced some what what you see in the video, but it seems the Iranians are increasing their provocation.
The Washington Post reports:
“The Iranian high rate of closure on a United States ship operating in accordance with international law while transiting in international waters along with the disregard of multiple warning attempts created a dangerous, harassing situation that could have led to further escalation including additional defensive measures by Nitze,” Urban said in a statement.
On Wednesday, three IRGC ships approached the Squall and the USS Tempest, another a coastal patrol ship, at high speed in the northern Persian Gulf, Urban said. Later in the day, an Iranian vessel came within 200 yards of the Tempest. After the Tempest shot flares and tried to communicate using the ship’s loudspeaker, Squall personnel fired three shots into the water from that ship’s .50-caliber gun. The Iranian ship then departed.
That same Iranian ship later approached the USS Stout, a guided-missile destroyer, later Wednesday. “The [IRGC] vessel proceeded to cross the bow of the Stout at close range on three separate occasions,” Urban said.
There has been a longstanding strategic communication game in the Persian Gulf, but with several recent incidents, it would appear that Iran, for whatever reason, is upping the ante.
The US national interest in the Persian Gulf goes back over a century, and is largely associated with the transition of energy consumption from coal to oil. However, when Iran increases its aggressiveness, it generally is for the benefit of its internal audience. This is not necessarily a play to annoy Americans, but to ensure the regime maintains its control over its people.
The USS Mason (DDG 87), USS Stout (DDG 55) and USS Nitze (DDG 94) are all home-ported in Norfolk and part of DESRON 26.
