Category Archives: Iran

U.S. Could Do More to Deter Iran Gray Zone Strategy, Experts Say

U.S. Could Do More to Deter Iran Gray Zone Strategy, Experts Say

STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Aug. 12, 2019) Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), Fleet replenishment oiler ship USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) and amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) transits the Strait of Hormuz. Navy photo

When American administrations develop a deterrence strategy for Iran in the Middle East, a model to follow could be how Israel runs a covert military campaign against Iran in Syria while pursuing public diplomacy with Russia, a new report states.

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Pentagon Leaders Say Trump Tweet on Iranian Attack Boats Was 'Important Warning'

Pentagon Leaders Say Trump Tweet on Iranian Attack Boats Was ‘Important Warning’

Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels conducted unsafe and unprofessional actions against U.S. Military ships by crossing the ships’ bows and sterns at close range while operating in international waters of the North Arabian Gulf. The guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) is conducting joint interoperability operations in support of maritime security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. US Navy photo.

The Navy’s existing policy for dealing with the small Iranian vessels prevalent in the Persian Gulf matches the sentiment of a Wednesday morning Tweet from President Donald Trump, Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Hyten said during a Wednesday media briefing. Read More

VIDEO: Iranian Attack Boats Harass U.S. Navy, Coast Guard Vessels in Persian Gulf

VIDEO: Iranian Attack Boats Harass U.S. Navy, Coast Guard Vessels in Persian Gulf

Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels conducted unsafe and unprofessional actions against U.S. Military ships by crossing the ships’ bows and sterns at close range while operating in international waters of the North Arabian Gulf. The guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) is conducting joint interoperability operations in support of maritime security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. US Navy photo.

Nearly a dozen Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels harassed a formation of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships in international waters in the northern Persian Gulf, the Navy announced today. Read More

USS Bataan Enters Persian Gulf; Carrier Truman Now in the Mediterranean

USS Bataan Enters Persian Gulf; Carrier Truman Now in the Mediterranean

An MH-60S Knight Hawk, assigned to the Dragon Whales of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, places cargo on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD5), during a vertical replenishment between Bataan and the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) on Dec. 31, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are now in the Persian Gulf as USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) crossed the Suez Canal and is now operating in the Mediterranean Sea after spending several weeks in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, Navy officials told USNI News on Friday.

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Panel: COVID-19 Exposes Weakness in Global Supply Chain, Chinese Global Expansion

Panel: COVID-19 Exposes Weakness in Global Supply Chain, Chinese Global Expansion

This illustration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). CDC illustration

The COVID-19 pandemic underlines the importance of international cooperation to contain the deadly virus but also spotlights the dangers of over-reliance on global supply chains in manufacturing everything from cars to pharmaceuticals, three international relations scholars said on Tuesday. Read More

COVID-19 Presents Additional Obstacle to Afghan Peace Process

COVID-19 Presents Additional Obstacle to Afghan Peace Process

A Chinook helicopter transports equipment around Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. US Army photo by Sgt. James Dansie.

The Taliban has shown no interest in cooperating with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to combat the COVID-19 pandemic spreading from Iran, creating the latest obstacle to peace, four regional experts said Monday.

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CENTCOM Commander: Middle East Aircraft Carrier Presence Key to Deterring Iran

CENTCOM Commander: Middle East Aircraft Carrier Presence Key to Deterring Iran

Sailors observe an MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopter, assigned to the ‘Dragon Slayers’ of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11, flying alongside the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) in the Arabian Sea on Feb. 14, 2020. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier presence allows the top American commander in the Middle East flexibility in being able to maintain a state of “contested deterrence” with Iran, lawmakers were told during a Tuesday hearing. Read More

Pentagon Officials Call Out Iranian-Backed Weapons Smugglers

Pentagon Officials Call Out Iranian-Backed Weapons Smugglers

USS Normandy (CG 60), in accordance with international law, boarded a stateless dhow in the Arabian Sea and interdicted an illicit shipment of advanced weapons and weapon components intended for the Houthis in Yemen, Feb. 9, 2020. US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON — Recognizing Iranian-backed weapons smugglers have the advantage evading U.S. patrols, and the Pentagon is taking to publicly calling out Tehran for helping fuel the ongoing conflict in Yemen.

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