Iran
U.S. Navy Flotilla Encounters Iran in Strait of Hormuz
In the WSJ.
Extract:-
Extract:-
An unarmed Iranian navy Bell 212 helicopter flew alongside the Boxer, yards away from the deck, before it was chased away by a U.S. helicopter. The commander of the Boxer, Capt. Ronald Dowdell, called the engagement “surreal.”
The convoy swept past the speed boats without incident but was followed by the larger Iranian military vessel, which came as close as 500 yards to the Boxer—the distance the U.S. navy allows before verbally communicating to a ship not to come any closer.
U.S. helicopters flew between the Iranian ship and the Boxer to warn it away, then followed a white Iranian aircraft that U.S. naval officials identified as a Y-12 surveillance plane.
Soon after, at approximately 10 a.m. local time, the Boxer convoy downed the drone, a U.S. official said late Thursday.
The convoy swept past the speed boats without incident but was followed by the larger Iranian military vessel, which came as close as 500 yards to the Boxer—the distance the U.S. navy allows before verbally communicating to a ship not to come any closer.
U.S. helicopters flew between the Iranian ship and the Boxer to warn it away, then followed a white Iranian aircraft that U.S. naval officials identified as a Y-12 surveillance plane.
Soon after, at approximately 10 a.m. local time, the Boxer convoy downed the drone, a U.S. official said late Thursday.
British flagged Swedish owned tanker seized
A BRITISH-flagged Swedish owned tanker has been seized by Iran and is heading for the Revolutionary Guard base at Qeshm Island.
Northern Marine, a subsidiary of Stena AB, confirmed "hostile action" had occurred before the tanker Stena Impero changed its course this afternoon.
It is believed 23 crew members were on board.
Just a few days ago Iran's supreme leader had threatened Britain will retaliation over what he described as the "vicious" seizure of an Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar by UK forces.
Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused Britain of “piracy” after the Royal Marines seized a supertanker believed to be carrying Iranian crude oil to Syria on July 5.He has called for the immediate release of the oil tanker Grace 1, which was detained on suspicion it was breaking European sanctions by taking oil to Syria. In a TV speech, the Ayatollah said: “Evil Britain commits piracy and steals our ship and gives it a legal appearance.“ Iran and those who believe in our system will not leave such vicious deeds unanswered.”
Iran's Revolutionary Guard also seized another oil tanker on Sunday, the Panama-flagged MT Riah.The country later released a video showing the troops in speedboats seizing the tanker along with 12 members which it accused of smuggling oil.The unverified video shows the moment two speedboats circulating the Panama-flagged MT Riah.
The foreign oil tanker was reportedly then seized shortly after being surrounded in stormy waters.
Northern Marine, a subsidiary of Stena AB, confirmed "hostile action" had occurred before the tanker Stena Impero changed its course this afternoon.
It is believed 23 crew members were on board.
Just a few days ago Iran's supreme leader had threatened Britain will retaliation over what he described as the "vicious" seizure of an Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar by UK forces.
Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused Britain of “piracy” after the Royal Marines seized a supertanker believed to be carrying Iranian crude oil to Syria on July 5.He has called for the immediate release of the oil tanker Grace 1, which was detained on suspicion it was breaking European sanctions by taking oil to Syria. In a TV speech, the Ayatollah said: “Evil Britain commits piracy and steals our ship and gives it a legal appearance.“ Iran and those who believe in our system will not leave such vicious deeds unanswered.”
Iran's Revolutionary Guard also seized another oil tanker on Sunday, the Panama-flagged MT Riah.The country later released a video showing the troops in speedboats seizing the tanker along with 12 members which it accused of smuggling oil.The unverified video shows the moment two speedboats circulating the Panama-flagged MT Riah.
The foreign oil tanker was reportedly then seized shortly after being surrounded in stormy waters.
Let's see how quickly the Americans and their President get blamed for all of this and the Iranians not.
That has been the standard response in the past.
That has been the standard response in the past.
The question is what are we (the all inclusive "we") going to do about what plainly is a series of actions by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard that could very well equate to Piracy or even acts of war?
What response shall we see from the UK?
What response shall we see from the UK?
Racedo,
I would much rather hear a reasoned response from you offering your opinion about the actual situation at hand.
We get it....you do not like Bolton, Pompeo, Trump, or apparently anything American....but that is irrelevant to the matter at hand and gratuitous slanging does not add too the discussion.
Stick to the facts and issues if you will.
Do tell us how you think the UK and by default NATO and other non-NATO nations should react to the latest event(s) by the Iranians.?
There can be no doubt the Iranians are involved....no matter how you wish otherwise.
If you wish to be seen as credible....you must stick to the issues and at some point take a position beyond banging your favorite drum.
So tell us....what is your analysis and expectations for the UK Government over the next few days....weeks...and couple of months?
I would much rather hear a reasoned response from you offering your opinion about the actual situation at hand.
We get it....you do not like Bolton, Pompeo, Trump, or apparently anything American....but that is irrelevant to the matter at hand and gratuitous slanging does not add too the discussion.
Stick to the facts and issues if you will.
Do tell us how you think the UK and by default NATO and other non-NATO nations should react to the latest event(s) by the Iranians.?
There can be no doubt the Iranians are involved....no matter how you wish otherwise.
If you wish to be seen as credible....you must stick to the issues and at some point take a position beyond banging your favorite drum.
So tell us....what is your analysis and expectations for the UK Government over the next few days....weeks...and couple of months?
Racedo,
I would much rather hear a reasoned response from you offering your opinion about the actual situation at hand.
We get it....you do not like Bolton, Pompeo, Trump, or apparently anything American....but that is irrelevant to the matter at hand and gratuitous slanging does not add too the discussion.
Stick to the facts and issues if you will.
Do tell us how you think the UK and by default NATO and other non-NATO nations should react to the latest event(s) by the Iranians.?
There can be no doubt the Iranians are involved....no matter how you wish otherwise.
If you wish to be seen as credible....you must stick to the issues and at some point take a position beyond banging your favorite drum.
So tell us....what is your analysis and expectations for the UK Government over the next few days....weeks...and couple of months?
I would much rather hear a reasoned response from you offering your opinion about the actual situation at hand.
We get it....you do not like Bolton, Pompeo, Trump, or apparently anything American....but that is irrelevant to the matter at hand and gratuitous slanging does not add too the discussion.
Stick to the facts and issues if you will.
Do tell us how you think the UK and by default NATO and other non-NATO nations should react to the latest event(s) by the Iranians.?
There can be no doubt the Iranians are involved....no matter how you wish otherwise.
If you wish to be seen as credible....you must stick to the issues and at some point take a position beyond banging your favorite drum.
So tell us....what is your analysis and expectations for the UK Government over the next few days....weeks...and couple of months?
Best reaction is not to over react. Iranians reacting to UK taking their tanker, Uk wants to hold it another month, Iranian decided to play a tit for tat game.
SFA to do with NATO but we will see them running in as soon as possible.
Bolton will already be wanting Special forces to go in and kill lots of people and get the tanker back, cooler heads will prevail and it will eventually be released as part of a choreographed action.
Article by Peggy Noonan is one to read and maybe for US to follow.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/america...ct-11563490667
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Racedo,
I would much rather hear a reasoned response from you offering your opinion about the actual situation at hand.
We get it....you do not like Bolton, Pompeo, Trump, or apparently anything American....but that is irrelevant to the matter at hand and gratuitous slanging does not add too the discussion.
Stick to the facts and issues if you will.
Do tell us how you think the UK and by default NATO and other non-NATO nations should react to the latest event(s) by the Iranians.?
There can be no doubt the Iranians are involved....no matter how you wish otherwise.
If you wish to be seen as credible....you must stick to the issues and at some point take a position beyond banging your favorite drum.
So tell us....what is your analysis and expectations for the UK Government over the next few days....weeks...and couple of months?
I would much rather hear a reasoned response from you offering your opinion about the actual situation at hand.
We get it....you do not like Bolton, Pompeo, Trump, or apparently anything American....but that is irrelevant to the matter at hand and gratuitous slanging does not add too the discussion.
Stick to the facts and issues if you will.
Do tell us how you think the UK and by default NATO and other non-NATO nations should react to the latest event(s) by the Iranians.?
There can be no doubt the Iranians are involved....no matter how you wish otherwise.
If you wish to be seen as credible....you must stick to the issues and at some point take a position beyond banging your favorite drum.
So tell us....what is your analysis and expectations for the UK Government over the next few days....weeks...and couple of months?
Racedo,
Now that is exactly the kind of reply that bears considering.
As to what exactly Bolton is thinking....upon what inside source do you rely to base that comment upon?
You reckon that he may be tasked to play that role in the administration so the President can be seen as taking a more reasoned and diplomatic approach to these kinds of events?
Keeping one's adversaries on their hind foot does work to one's advantage and to the opponents dis-advantage.
Being un-predictable makes the political calculus for the other side much more difficult for them to sort out.
Now that is exactly the kind of reply that bears considering.
As to what exactly Bolton is thinking....upon what inside source do you rely to base that comment upon?
You reckon that he may be tasked to play that role in the administration so the President can be seen as taking a more reasoned and diplomatic approach to these kinds of events?
Keeping one's adversaries on their hind foot does work to one's advantage and to the opponents dis-advantage.
Being un-predictable makes the political calculus for the other side much more difficult for them to sort out.
Racedo,
Now that is exactly the kind of reply that bears considering.
As to what exactly Bolton is thinking....upon what inside source do you rely to base that comment upon?
You reckon that he may be tasked to play that role in the administration so the President can be seen as taking a more reasoned and diplomatic approach to these kinds of events?
Keeping one's adversaries on their hind foot does work to one's advantage and to the opponents dis-advantage.
Being un-predictable makes the political calculus for the other side much more difficult for them to sort out.
Now that is exactly the kind of reply that bears considering.
As to what exactly Bolton is thinking....upon what inside source do you rely to base that comment upon?
You reckon that he may be tasked to play that role in the administration so the President can be seen as taking a more reasoned and diplomatic approach to these kinds of events?
Keeping one's adversaries on their hind foot does work to one's advantage and to the opponents dis-advantage.
Being un-predictable makes the political calculus for the other side much more difficult for them to sort out.
He maybe a useful foil to have but he recently has believed he has more power than he has. Trump slapping him down publicly twice within weeks brought him to heel. He wants a war against Iran because Israel wants a war and he is beholding to them and has been for decades.
I doubt a lot will happen prior to Israel elections in September, though Bibi may want something to try and get him elected again.
Tanker being siezed in Gibraltar was what set this off, Iran was always going to react it just needed time.
Iran is clear it will not be pushed around, it made and kept to agreements in the past that US broke. So from their side why would the trust the US when Israel just has to tell them break it and it happens. Any agreement US makes would just have next President repudiate it hence now US word becomes meaningless, now even US friends understand that, when your friends doubt your word then you need to worry.
President Trump has legal and executive authority under US and International Law to do as he did.
It may not be popular, and might even be the wrong thing to do...but he is within his authority.
The terms of the Agreement (Treaty if you wish....) facilitate any individual Nation a part of the Agreement to cite issues and take action if it feels there was not a proper response to those concerns.
Yale Journal of International Law | Is the Trump Administration Bound by the Iran Deal?
It may not be popular, and might even be the wrong thing to do...but he is within his authority.
The terms of the Agreement (Treaty if you wish....) facilitate any individual Nation a part of the Agreement to cite issues and take action if it feels there was not a proper response to those concerns.
Yale Journal of International Law | Is the Trump Administration Bound by the Iran Deal?
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Jeremy Hunt has warned Iran it will face "serious consequences" if it does not release a British-flagged tanker seized in the Strait of Hormuz.By jove Jeremy,I am sure they will be choking on their Chelo Kabab's.Come Tuesday Boris will slap them down with a Kipper!
