Augean Stables

The timing of the Iranian posturing in the Persian Gulf is crucial to understanding Iran’s intentions.  Early Sunday morning, five small Iranian Revolutionary Guards Naval Corps boats approached three American naval vessels, the USS Port Royal, USS Hopper, and USS Ingraham, that were entering the Gulf. The boats approached from the north, and split into two groups to pass on either side of the U.S. formation.  Navy Vice Adm. Kevin J. Cosgriff, who also commands U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said that they received communications from the Iranians saying that they were heading toward the U.S. formation, and that they would explode the American ships. The U.S. Navy tried to warn off the Iranians, but two of the small craft began to dump small white boxes that floated in front of the USS Ingraham. American sailors manned battle stations and were moments away from opening fire. After about 30 minutes, the five Iranian ships turned and sped back to Iranian waters.  

It should be noted that the Revolutionary Guard has been given control of Iranian operations in the Persian Gulf, instead of the Iranian Navy. This move drastically elevates tensions, meaning that the American Navy must operate next to vessels operated by a group its considers a terrorist organization.

President Bush is preparing for his visit to the Middle East. According to Debka.com,  Iran had made some possibly conciliatory moves recently, including the visit of Ali Larijani to Egypt and Damascus to discuss a way to end the Lebanese political stalemate. But with the recent action, Iran wanted to send Bush the message that it can make life dangerous for American troops, and is able to disrupt the passage of oil through the Straits of Hormuz.  The naval action seems to be in response to Bush’s assertion on Israel’s Channel 2 that Iran remains a threat, and that the military option is still on the table. Bush placed the Revolutionary Guard on the list of terrorist organizations last year.

The Iranian government press agency IRNA quoted the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry as saying that the incident was a simple misidentification between the parties. It remains unclear how the Iranians could possibly mistake three American warships for anything else, and why they expect anyone to believe their excuse.  

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said on Monday the act taken in connection with an American navy ship is something normal.

In an exclusive interview with IRNA on Monday, Hosseini said, “That’s something normal taking place every now and then for each party and it (the problem) is settled after identification of the two parties.”
He recalled that the case had happened in the past too and finalized as the two parts identified each other.

He said, “The case happening on Saturday was similar to the past ones and it was a regular and natural issue.”
Some western media late Monday quoted US officials as claiming that several Iranian speedboats had neared several US navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US officials also claimed that during the incident warnings had been exchanged between the two sides.

The earlier incident involving the kidnapping of the British sailors must serve as a blueprint of how not to act for the United States. Not only did the British sailors allow themselves to be captured, they were willing to serve as propaganda mouthpieces for the Iranians after only minimal pressure. U.S. sailors should be ready to respond with force to attempts to detain sailors or harm personnel. The Iranians are hoping the U.S. will show as little spine as did the British, but for now, it seems they have miscalculated.