Report: Iran sending warships toward U.S. maritime borders

I'm sure this story was already posted and that I'm just search incompetent, but I didn't find it, so I am sharing this story in hopes that a MOD will come to this thread to state "Already posted, thread closed"...hahaha

Anyways, on CNN, I just read a story they posted a good 90 minutes ago stating what the thread headline reads. Iran is going to be bringing naval ships to the maritime borders of the US. Is this just another tactic by Iran or is there something more to this story? As a US citizen, I never like the idea of having naval ships of enemies along my borders, but I'm sure the citizens of Iran feel the same way about us and all our military buddies constantly swarming their borders...

Washington (CNN) -- A senior Iranian naval official says Iran is sending warships toward U.S. maritime borders to send a message, a move a U.S. defense official characterized as an announcement, not a deployment.
"Iran's military fleet is approaching the United States' maritime borders, and this move has a message," Adm. Afshin Rezayee Haddad said, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported Saturday.
The plan, according to Fars, is a response to the United States beefing up its naval presence in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain.
Haddad said the Iranian fleet was under way and approaching the Atlantic Ocean "via the waters near South Africa," a claim that has not been confirmed.
It's not the first time Iran has made such a threat, said the U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"It's important to understand that, at this point, we have an announcement not a deployment. They've stated this aspiration before," said the defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
In 2011, Iran twice announced plans to send ships toward the U.S. maritime borders.
"Freedom of the seas doesn't just apply to fish. It applies to all maritime nations, all navies, everywhere -- so long as they understand the responsibilities which come with that freedom," the defense official said.
"So if they chose to send their ships to the Atlantic, I'm sure they won't be surprised to find many, many others already there."
The Iranian navy is the smallest of its military forces, according to GlobalSecurity.org, which tracks defense and intelligence issues.

I'm sure this will be nothing, similar to the threats we saw back in 2011.. I actually found quite a few ATS threads from them on this subject

Anyways, I felt it was worth sharing because with the Middle East and my Govt. you honestly never know what's coming. So, I hate discounting anything, because history has proven that my Govt. acts a little crazy and not always in the best interest of the people they are representing...I would be interested to see how the US would be waiting there to "greet" them on their arrival...

CNN

I guess my response would be "And?"

There isn't a blessed thing they could do there. Without nuclear warheads (or biological or chemical) the type of ships the Iranian Navy has are absolutely no threat to the US. This move would very much fall under the law that says " It is foolish to play to your adversary's strength".

reply to post by jhn7537

Unless this went up as another subject, you're first. When I saw this on the news I couldn't add any personal thoughts ... so you get my appreciation for starting the topic in appropriate ATS fashion.

I'm not really concerned. That said, if they surreptitiously drop a couple of mines off our shores I pray there will be a response that'll make any adversary reluctant to approach again.

If this doesn't have a False Flag potential ... I don't know what does.

reply to post by Snarl


I always have false flag feelings creeping in the back of my mind, especially when our Govt. is itching for another war... And when you see the market taking hits recently and with threads on ATS showing a possible economic collapse in April of this year, who knows what our Govt. is capable of...

Montana
I guess my response would be "And?"

There isn't a blessed thing they could do there. Without nuclear warheads (or biological or chemical) the type of ships the Iranian Navy has are absolutely no threat to the US. This move would very much fall under the law that says " It is foolish to play to your adversary's strength".

I am pretty confident that you are right, but you always need to worry about underestimating an opponent, because they may not necessarily defeat you, but they could shock the hell out of you..

Does anyone truly know/understand all their military capabilities? I think most are working off speculation, which can be a dangerous thing..

Mountain out of a mole hill is what it is. The USN operates in battle groups larger than the entire Iranian Navy. (Speaking of blue water forces) The numbers I saw were 3 frigates and 5 corvettes. The US Coast Guard outnumbers them many times over. When you speak of naval capabilities, there are several navies on the world stage that are top class. Iran is not one of those.

The only threat the IN could conceivably pose would be with their SSKs. They are modified Russian Kilos are would be very hard to find if their location was in doubt. Still, it would only be a matter of a (short) time before the overwhelming numbers of US H-Ks would blanket the area and drive them up. And still the question would be what would they do there? If they launched one torp they would be dead.

Their "Fleet" consists of a Destroyer (errr..their version of one) and a supply ship that has a helicopter deck or something. Some Armada. I think Cuba has a more impressive and dangerous Navy.

They could at least make a statement worthy of the effort ...but they even took the trip around the Cape of Good Hope to get back up here. Umm.. Okay.. Taking the scenic route just for the heck of it? Their crew will be tired and on the wrong end of their cruise, at the wrong time to be there as they cross at the close point.

All show..no substance and a well appointed group of American yachts could probably sink their little fleet. I usually don't underestimate Iran, but it's not doing it now to say...this is comedy, not a threat. Yikes...

reply to post by Montana


Yea, I believe I heard that the US Navy is greater then most of the countries who have navies put together.. I just wonder what the purpose of this trip is then? Just to make a point? Well, the US knows they can't do anything with their Navy and they will surely have some ships floating around there to meet Iran if/when they show up. It just seems like a pointless attempt at escalating the situation.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


Well, isn't Russia always the wild card when discussing Iran and Syria??

reply to post by jhn7537


IMO this is purely for internal Middle East consumption. Iran is still attempting to proclaim themselves the tippy-point of Islam's spear against the great satan. Stories like this play very well on Iran's internal television and digital broadcasts. They don't care what we think about this- supposed- deployment. The leaders only care what political gains it will give them at home.

reply to post by Montana


Ahhh so it's like a smoke and mirror show for the citizens of Iran... But in all reality, if the Iranian citizens had any clue of the US Naval capabilities they wouldn't be feeling too hot about their handful of antiquated ships going up against the US Naval Fleet

Wrabbit2000

They could at least make a statement worthy of the effort ...but they even took the trip around the Cape of Good Hope to get back up here. Umm.. Okay.. Taking the scenic route just for the heck of it? Their crew will be tired and on the wrong end of their cruise, at the wrong time to be there as they cross at the close point.

Or maybe their travels have nothing to do with the US and the nonstory is engineered propaganda......

reply to post by jhn7537


Russia? Not really... I have no illusions about the threat of the 'Russian Bear' and it's out of hibernation with a clear hungry gleam in it's eye, too. However, the 'Red Banner Fleet' of the Soviet Union is the Rust Review tied up at port or sinking by their own Torpedos in the North Sea.

I know Putin is on one very impressive crash program to bring his Navy up to blue water standards, how it once was ..but at this moment, for a bit longer? The US Navy still rules the 7 Seas as the right hand of Neptune.

Rosinitiate

Wrabbit2000

They could at least make a statement worthy of the effort ...but they even took the trip around the Cape of Good Hope to get back up here. Umm.. Okay.. Taking the scenic route just for the heck of it? Their crew will be tired and on the wrong end of their cruise, at the wrong time to be there as they cross at the close point.

Or maybe their travels have nothing to do with the US and the nonstory is engineered propaganda......

Well, that's where the whole false flag thing comes in... The US media begins to show that Iran is becoming more aggressive, strategically placing ships, military, etc. and then some US target gets hit, all blame goes on Iran, because they find a Iranian passport that survived a jet fuel fire, and then we go to war...

jhn7537
reply to post by Wrabbit2000

 

Well, isn't Russia always the wild card when discussing Iran and Syria??

Don't forget China. They've everything to gain. You can bet they'll be watching every DoD reaction to this 'threat.' And ... if there's any play here ... it'll return focus back to the ME and keep AmeriKa away from China's backdoor.

There are a lot of American politicians who haven't had enough of the ME. There's a lot of 'em who're reluctant to spend the $$$ required on the Pacific Shift.

One has to ask themselves: "Why is this even in the news?" Is there a policy message here?

reply to post by jhn7537


The average Iranian is no dummy. They are more than capable of figuring out the size and capabilities of the respective naval forces. The internet works there, too. Unfortunately, the people this will impress are the repressives that live in caves and think anything invented after the death of Muhammad is satanic. They are also the ones with guns and explosive tuxedos.

Montana
reply to post by jhn7537

 

The average Iranian is no dummy. They are more than capable of figuring out the size and capabilities of the respective naval forces. The internet works there, too. Unfortunately, the people this will impress are the repressives that live in caves and think anything invented after the death of Muhammad is satanic. They are also the ones with guns and explosive tuxedos.

I honestly had no idea if they had censorship or not with their internet privileges

jhn7537

Rosinitiate

Wrabbit2000

They could at least make a statement worthy of the effort ...but they even took the trip around the Cape of Good Hope to get back up here. Umm.. Okay.. Taking the scenic route just for the heck of it? Their crew will be tired and on the wrong end of their cruise, at the wrong time to be there as they cross at the close point.

Or maybe their travels have nothing to do with the US and the nonstory is engineered propaganda......

Well, that's where the whole false flag thing comes in... The US media begins to show that Iran is becoming more aggressive, strategically placing ships, military, etc. and then some US target gets hit, all blame goes on Iran, because they find a Iranian passport that survived a jet fuel fire, and then we go to war...

Haha you said it not me. Best not to think about that least you end up manifesting it.

Snarl
reply to post by Wrabbit2000

 

One has to ask themselves: "Why is this even in the news?" Is there a policy message here?

What? Like fear-mongering?