Free Preview of Members-Only Content
To view the requested intelligence, you must be a Stratfor.com member.
There are a number of oddities surrounding the Jan. 7 U.S. Pentagon report that Iranian fast boats provoked U.S. Navy vessels into a near clash in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the 5th Fleet of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), around 8 a.m. local time Jan. 6, Navy cruiser USS Port Royal, destroyer USS Hopper and frigate USS Ingraham were transiting the strait on their way into the Gulf on a routine mission when five small fast boats — probably fast-moving gun or missile boats — suspected of being manned by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy confronted the U.S. ships and engaged in aggressive behavior.
Unnamed U.S. military officials said the Iranian boats charged the U.S. ships and dropped white boxes in the water in front of the USS Hopper. Radio communications between the U.S. and Iranian vessels were exchanged during the incident, with one message from the Iranians purportedly saying, “We’re coming at you and you’ll explode in a couple minutes.” Based on standing rules of engagement, the U.S. surface combatants likely already had the authority to fire at the Iranian boats in self-defense, but the Iranian boats sped away before any shots were fired.
| Stratfor Members, please log in at the top left hand corner |
