The Strait of Hormuz Incident

Five naval vessels belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on Jan. 5 provoked three U.S. Navy ships near the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. media reported. Since then, the United States has emphasized the Iranian threat to U.S. forces in the strait and to the transit of oil from the Persian Gulf region.

Key Analysis
Geopolitical Weekly
Graphic for Geopolitical Intelligence Report
The Strait of Hormuz Incident and U.S. Strategy
January 14, 2008 1955 GMT
Iranian speedboats reportedly menaced U.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz on Jan. 6. Since then, the United States has emphasized the threat posed by Iran to U.S. forces in the strait and to the transit of oil from the Persian Gulf region. The revelation of a naval threat from Iran in the Strait of Hormuz just before U.S. President George W. Bush's trip to the region was fortuitous for the United States, to say the least. Washington will use the incident to push for an anti-Iranian coalition among the Gulf Arabs, as well as to push Iran into publicly working with the United States on the Iraq problem. [more]
Image grab from video showing USS Port Royal
Iran, U.S.: Ongoing Naval Incident Fallout
January 10, 2008 1640 GMT
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has released a video of its own regarding the Jan. 6 naval confrontation with the United States. [more]
IRGC Members Riding On Boat
Iran, U.S.: Bolstering the U.S. Version of a Naval Incident
January 9, 2008 0005 GMT
Video footage released by the U.S. Navy on Jan. 8 lends support to the Pentagon’s assertion that Iranian navy vessels behaved in an overly aggressive fashion during an encounter with U.S. Navy vessels Jan. 6. [more]
Geopolitical Diary Graphic -- FINAL
Geopolitical Diary: The 'Strait of Hormuz Incident'
January 8, 2008 0245 GMT
An unnamed Pentagon official said five Iranian vessels had aggressively approached three U.S. Navy ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. [more]
USS Port Royal
Iran, U.S.: Unusual Details about the Strait of Hormuz Incident
January 7, 2008 1843 GMT
The Jan. 7 report from the U.S. Pentagon about Iranian fast boats allegedly provoking U.S. Navy vessels into a near clash in the Strait of Hormuz contains several oddities. [more]
U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destoryer in the Persian Gulf (USS Preble - not the one attacked by the iranians)
Iran: Provocation and Negotiations
January 7, 2008 1440 GMT
The Jan. 5 provocation of U.S. Navy ships by vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could be an Iranian attempt to put more pressure on Washington to meet Tehran's demands in negotiations over Iraq. [more]
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