American Commander Warns in the Strait of Hormuz; 'These are Critical Minutes'

Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels have approached within 500 meters of an American warship, which was hosting the commander of the U.S. Army in the Middle East this time. The American general expressed concern that 'in this confined space, the likelihood of a miscalculation is very high.' This is not the first time Revolutionary Guard vessels have approached or maneuvered alongside American ships in the Persian Gulf; however, General Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, was on board one of them on Monday, July 21. The USS New Orleans was transiting the Strait of Hormuz when five Iranian vessels approached it. Reuters reports that four of the vessels were fast boats, and three were armed with machine guns. One vessel was also carrying missiles. One of the vessels, after approaching the American ship, turned off its engine and observed the passage of the warship and the destroyer escorting it. General Joseph Votel, speaking to Marines and reporters on the deck of the ship, stated, 'As you can see in this confined space (of this water area), the likelihood of a miscalculation is very high.' According to the U.S. Army commander in the Middle East, in 90% of the cases of approaches, they are considered professional and safe. American warships pass through the Strait of Hormuz nearly 250 times a year. However, General Votel noted that in 10% of cases, unsafe, unusual, or unprofessional incidents occur. He added, 'We often do not have a lot of time to react to these interactions. I think what we probably learned today is that minutes are what matters.' Iran has an active presence in the Strait of Hormuz and has threatened to block it at times. This strait is a waterway between Iran and Oman and has been transited since 1980 through two parallel routes north and south among islands belonging to Oman and Iran's borders. Hussein Aryan, a military expert at Radio Farda, states that the ships and vessels in the Strait of Hormuz use predetermined and fixed entry and exit routes that are clearly outlined on nautical charts. These routes, established to separate maritime traffic in most narrow waterways, align with the regulations of the International Maritime Organization. A significant amount of oil used worldwide must pass through this strait to reach countries and industries around the globe. The approach of Iranian vessels to American warships has sometimes resulted in reactions, including 'warning shots' from U.S. Coast Guard patrols. However, in some cases, patrols have assisted Iranian sailors in distress. Last year, on the eve of the implementation of the nuclear agreement, the Revolutionary Guard's naval forces, responsible for military operations in the Persian Gulf, detained 10 American sailors and later released them. The detention of these sailors has faced ongoing reactions. General Votel stated on Monday on the deck of the USS New Orleans that the nuclear agreement between Tehran and six world powers 'included one of the very significant threats,' but he added that 'other actions here have not changed.' He also mentioned that if American ships see a distressed or troubled vessel in their path, they will attempt to assist it.