USNI News Illustration by H I Sutton
The former oil-tanker the Iranian Navy converted into a warship could be carrying millions of gallons of fuel to Venezuela in a ploy to get around U.S. sanctions, according to photos that emerged on Persian social media. Read More
IRIS Kharg before and after the June 1 Fire. Maxar Image used with permission
New satellite images released Thursday show the sunken hull of what earlier this week was one of Iran’s largest warship, IRIS Kharg an Ol-class replenishment oiler, caught fire on the evening of June 1. Read More
USNI News Photo Illustration. Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies used with permission
This post has been updated with a statement from the Pentagon and the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
An Iranian Navy ship thought to be bound for Venezuela left its port in late April with seven high-speed missile-attack craft strapped to its deck, USNI News has learned. Read More
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) steams off the coast of Iwo To on May 22, 2021. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated with a statement from the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
The American aircraft carrier based in Japan will make a rare deployment to U.S. Central Command to support the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan later this summer, two defense officials confirmed to USNI News on Wednesday. Read More
Two Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) fast in-shore attack craft (FIAC), a type of speedboat armed with machine guns, conducted unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers while operating in close proximity to USCGC Maui (WPB-1304) as it transits the Strait of Hormuz with other U.S. naval vessels on May 10, 2021. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated with a statement from U.S. 5th Fleet.
A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter fired two rounds of warning shots at a swarm of Iranian fast boats harassing a Navy guided-missile submarine and other U.S. warships entering the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz early Monday, a Pentagon spokesperson told reporters this afternoon. Read More
The following is the May 4, 2021 Congressional Research Service report, State Sponsors of Acts of International Terrorism—Legislative Parameters: In Brief. Read More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) provides security for Marine advisors during an advising mission with 1st Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps as the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces conduct Operation Maiwand 12 at Camp Shorserack, Afghanistan, March 12, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo
U.S. Central Command’s top officer stressed today that the military is “completely focused” on responsibly withdrawing from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021, the 20th anniversary of the al Qaeda attack on the United States. Read More
Three Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) fast inshore attack craft (FIAC) approach the patrol coastal ship USS Firebolt (PC-10), while the U.S. vessel was conducting routine maritime security patrols in the international waters of the North Persian Gulf on April 26, 2021. US Navy Photo
U.S. sailors fired warning shots to ward off a trio of Iranian fast attack boats harassing U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels in the Persian Gulf on Monday, U.S. officials told USNI News today. Read More
The following is the April. 23, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Iran Sanctions. Read More
USS Toledo (SSN-769) surfaces at Ice Camp Seadragon on the Arctic Ocean for Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2020. US Navy Photo
The chief of naval operations said an ongoing Global Force Posture Review led by the defense secretary could bring about changes to how aircraft carriers and other in-demand naval assets should be deployed around the world in the future, as one deployed carrier strike group that trained for a range of new missions is now in the Middle East conducting the same old missions of land strikes and deterrence against aggression from Iran. Read More
