Demonstration of Power in the Persian Gulf; US and Allied Naval Commanders Transit the Strait of Hormuz

On Friday, commanders of the US, British, and French navies stationed in the Middle East passed through the Strait of Hormuz aboard an American warship, signaling their unified approach to keeping this vital waterway open following the seizure of two oil tankers by Iran. The Persian Gulf has been unstable since the collapse of the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. During the transit of the US, British, and French naval commanders aboard the USS Paul Hamilton, three speedboats of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard approached the ship at one point. Brad Cooper, commander of the US Fifth Fleet stationed in the Middle East, told the Associated Press, 'Iran has seized or attacked 15 ships in the past two years. Eight seizures and seven attacks. Therefore, the shipping industry is paying attention to how the security situation in the region is. We have the capability to make a positive impact in these circumstances, and that is what we are doing now.' Cooper noted that the Iranian boats came within 900 meters of the USS Paul Hamilton on Friday. The United States has regarded the security of Middle Eastern waterways, especially the Strait of Hormuz, as key since President Jimmy Carter's speech in 1980, in which he pledged to use military force to protect US interests in the Persian Gulf. Last week, John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, criticized Iran for seizing tankers and stated that the US intends to 'take a series of actions to bolster its defensive posture' in the Persian Gulf. Cooper indicated that the passage of the American warship alongside British and French commanders was part of these actions. He stated, 'The passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is very important for the world economy.' There was no immediate response in Iranian state media or from the Revolutionary Guard regarding the transit of the US, British, and French naval commanders aboard the Hamilton. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press about this incident. The US military says it is increasing patrols in the Persian Gulf.