Iranian Vessels Harass U.S. Destroyer, Forces It To Change Course

[mohsen]

Iranian ships stalked a U.S. destroyer on Tuesday, coming with 300 yards of the USS Nitze as it sailed through international waters in the Strait of Hormuz.


A Navy official told Fox News that four ships of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were involved in the “high-speed intercept.”


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“These sorts of unsafe and unprofessional actions can lead to escalation and miscalculation, which may necessitate additional defensive measures,” said Cmdr. Bill Urban, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command public affairs officer. “Commanding officers have an inherent obligation for self defense.”

The Nitze and the USS Mason, a guided missle destroyer, were crossing international waters in the vicinity of the strait when approached by the four Iranian vessels.

The official said that after the Iranian ships approached, the Nitze tried 12 times to make contact with the Iranian vessels. The Nitze also whistled five short blasts, which is an international danger signal.


The Nitze eventually was forced to alter course to avoid the Iranian ships, even though it then steered close to several oil rigs.

After this, the Iranian ships slowed, and finally sailed away after coming within 300 yards of the Nitze.

Back in January, 10 U.S. sailors were detained by Iran for 15 hours after their patrol boat strayed into Iranian waters.

Urban said that Iran has acted unprofessionally at sea in about 10 percent of its encounters with the U.S. Navy since the start of 2015.


“We absolutely expect all maritime nations to act in a professional manner in accordance with international law,” Urban said. “The U.S. Navy continues to remain vigilant, and is trained to respond in a professional manner for all interactions.”

The Washington Post cited Adm. John Richardson as saying the the incident is reflective of “the greater competition the U.S. is facing at sea”

The Strait of Hormuz is a major shipping channel that carries about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply. The U.S. Naval Forces Central Command is responsible for policing the 2.5 million square miles of the area, including the conflict-prone Persian Gulf.

http://www.westernjournalism.com/iranian-vessels-harass-u-s-destroyer-forces-it-to-change-course/

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though we don't respond to calls that don't mention the correct name of "Persian Gulf". our waters, our rules.

 

[pher]

Salute!!! This is the spirit we are looking for. The mighty US chickened out as always.

 

[SOHEIL]

 

[Blue Marlin]

Salute!!! This is the spirit we are looking for. The mighty US chickened out as always.

i would not call it chickened out, but they were the better person and decided not to bother with them

 

[mohsen]

i would not call it chickened out, but they were the better person and decided not to bother with them

and we will treat them even better as long as they remain the so called better person.

 

[Blue Marlin]

and we will treat them even better as long as they remain the so called better person.

im not questioning Iranian hospitality but the behaviour of this act done by Iranians in this specific case was childish.

 

[mohsen]

im not questioning Iranian hospitality but the behaviour of this act done by Iranians in this specific case was childish.

strait of Hormoz is our waters, all ships must identify themselves and their course properly to pass through it, in the published video American crew on the radio uses a fake name instead of the "Persian gulf", if the so called "better persons" want to be provoking , then we can be even more provoking (treat them better!).

 

[SOHEIL]

im not questioning Iranian hospitality but the behaviour of this act done by Iranians in this specific case was childish.

Maybe this is the only way!!!

 

[volatile]

Hilarious

 

[LeGenD]

Salute!!! This is the spirit we are looking for. The mighty US chickened out as always.

I don't see any reason for chest-thumping here. Both nations behaved responsibly.

 

[raptor22]

im not questioning Iranian hospitality but the behaviour of this act done by Iranians in this specific case was childish.

Base on the UN convention on the law of the sea the security of straights like straight of Hormuz is with States bordering straits .... therefore we do have right to act whenever we sense that your ships or ships belong to other countries ain't complying with the law or posing a threat against us .... in many occasions American ships even are not willing to introduce themselves so when you get cocky you should expect such reactions .... it's our water not American ... American even have no right to fire a bullet against us .... even almost 3 KM transit passage in straight of Hormuz is in Iran territorial water ...so no international water over here as it says:

The Nitze and the USS Mason, a guided missle destroyer, were crossing international waters in the vicinity of the strait when approached by the four Iranian vessels.​

Passage of a foreign ship shall be considered to be prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State if in the territorial sea it engages in any of the following activities:

(a) any threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of the coastal State, or in any other manner in violation of the principles of international law embodied in the Charter of the United Nations;
(b) any exercise or practice with weapons of any kind;
(c) any act aimed at collecting information to the prejudice of the defence or security of the coastal State;
(d) any act of propaganda aimed at affecting the defence or security of the coastal State;
(e) the launching, landing or taking on board of any aircraft;
(f) the launching, landing or taking on board of any military device;
(g) the loading or unloading of any commodity, currency or person contrary to the customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations of the coastal State;
(h) any act of wilful and serious pollution contrary to this Convention;
(i) any fishing activities;
(j) the carrying out of research or survey activities;
(k) any act aimed at interfering with any systems of communication
or any other facilities or installations of the coastal State;
(l) any other activity not having a direct bearing on passage.​

Moreover:

States bordering straits may adopt laws and regulations relating to transit passage through straits, in respect of all or any of the following:

-The safety of navigation and the regulation of maritime traffic, as provided in article 41;

-Foreign ships exercising the right of transit passage shall comply with such laws and regulations.

- Refrain from any threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of States bordering the strait, or in any other manner in violation of the principles of international law embodied in the Charter of the United Nations;​

 

[Arminkh]

I guess they are practicing their swarm techniques against real targets:

http://www.wsj.com/video/video-iran...yer/7FCFFA73-F172-4DB8-A805-76AF49799242.html

 

[Oldman1]

Salute!!! This is the spirit we are looking for. The mighty US chickened out as always.

No they didn't chicken out. Otherwise no U.S. Navy ship would be able to get into the Persian Gulf. This is no different than Iran threaten our carriers never to come back even though they did come back. The commander of the ship tries to avoid ramming his ship, because he would lose his command. If the Iranians were serious, they would fire on it, not try to force it off course. They know what would happened if they attacked it.

 

[anon45]

http://wtkr.com/2016/08/26/us-fires-warning-shots-at-iranian-vessel-after-close-encounter/

makes sense.

 

[Serpentine]

i would not call it chickened out, but they were the better person and decided not to bother with them

The better person? They were about to enter Iranian territory, and they come from thousands of miles away. How would you like it if Russia or China drove warships near your country and every once in a while, sailed in your territorial waters? Of course you would be whining, but if uncle sam does it, they should be on the right side, naturally.

No they didn't chicken out. Otherwise no U.S. Navy ship would be able to get into the Persian Gulf. This is no different than Iran threaten our carriers never to come back even though they did come back. The commander of the ship tries to avoid ramming his ship, because he would lose his command. If the Iranians were serious, they would fire on it, not try to force it off course. They know what would happened if they attacked it.

Why shoot at it? We are not at war with U.S, it's stupid to shoot at a vessel that is about to enter your territorial waters with no hostile intentions (at least what it appears to be). Neither Iran nor U.S are stupid to start a war over something like this.