President Donald Trump this morning revealed that he has ordered the Navy to shoot and destroy any Iranian gunboats that are found to be harassing U.S. warships.
The forceful response comes as reports last week indicate 11 Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard vessels repeatedly harassed six U.S. Navy warships that were conducting drills in international waters.
“I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea,” the President warned on social media.
Video of #IRGCN vessels conducting dangerous & harassing approaches on U.S. naval vessels in the international waters of the North Arabian Gulf. pic.twitter.com/zL9VKQ0eiQ
— U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) April 15, 2020
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Not Playing Games
The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet reported last week, according to Fox News, that:
Iranian ships repeatedly crossed in front and behind the U.S. vessels at extremely close range and high speeds, including multiple crossings of one ship, the Puller, with a 50-yard closest point of approach and within 10 yards of another ship, the Maui’s, bow, a 5th Fleet statement said.
They did this despite multiple warnings via radio, along with horn blasts and long-range acoustic noise maker devices.
The Iranian vessels finally moved away after roughly one hour.
I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2020
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Iran Better Back Down
Iran might want to think twice about playing these games again after Trump’s order. His threats are not hollow, and there is no doubt he has no intention of placating Iran as his predecessor had.
In January of 2016, Iran detained 10 American sailors after they navigated inside Iranian territorial waters.
In response, former President Barack Obama had his Secretary of State John Kerry thank the regime despite video showing sailors crying and apologizing, and despite images that also showed them being mocked.
The mullahs’ regime ruling #Iran harasses UN Navy ships for propaganda purposes.
Thank you, President Trump, for reminding this regime that the Obama years are gone.
And BTW, this regime does not represent the Iranian people.pic.twitter.com/lBYjTGLltq
— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) April 22, 2020
By contrast, President Trump announced in a statement in 2019 that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had been designated a terrorist organization.
It marked the first time the United States had designated an entity within a foreign government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
This new directive from the President comes several months after hostilities between the U.S. and Iran which included an attack at the U.S. Embassy compound in Iraq.
Mobs were formed by pro-Iran militia members to attack the embassy, smashing security cameras, breaking down a door into the reception area, and setting the room on fire, all while shouting “Death to America!”
Days later, a U.S. airstrike took out Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force.
Then, as will likely be now, the only people mourning President Trump’s tough stance against Iran will be Iran … and the Democrats.
