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Will Trump’s Plans to Counter Iran Bring a Return of the ‘Tanker War’? Will Trump’s Plans to Counter Iran Bring a Return of the ‘Tanker War’?
(about 16 hours later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump is pressing allies to join the United States in creating a fleet of warships to protect commercial oil tankers from attack by Iran in the Persian Gulf and nearby waters, despite alarm from some within the Pentagon that the mission could escalate into the kind of direct confrontation Mr. Trump is seeking to avoid.WASHINGTON — President Trump is pressing allies to join the United States in creating a fleet of warships to protect commercial oil tankers from attack by Iran in the Persian Gulf and nearby waters, despite alarm from some within the Pentagon that the mission could escalate into the kind of direct confrontation Mr. Trump is seeking to avoid.
Mark T. Esper, the acting defense secretary, is casting the effort, called Sentinel, as something far less than a military offensive against Iran, but one that could bring European and gulf Arab allies together to safeguard one of the world’s vital trade routes.Mark T. Esper, the acting defense secretary, is casting the effort, called Sentinel, as something far less than a military offensive against Iran, but one that could bring European and gulf Arab allies together to safeguard one of the world’s vital trade routes.
“We’re not trying to build a military coalition as much as a coalition writ large of like-minded allies that share our concerns about the freedom of navigation,” Mr. Esper said as he flew to Brussels this week for his first meeting with NATO defense ministers.“We’re not trying to build a military coalition as much as a coalition writ large of like-minded allies that share our concerns about the freedom of navigation,” Mr. Esper said as he flew to Brussels this week for his first meeting with NATO defense ministers.
Some European allies, who have routinely been chastised by Mr. Trump for not doing enough for their collective defense, do not appear ready to join his initiative, while others appear open to discussing the proposal.Some European allies, who have routinely been chastised by Mr. Trump for not doing enough for their collective defense, do not appear ready to join his initiative, while others appear open to discussing the proposal.
And even some officials at the Pentagon and within the Navy have expressed alarm that the mission could return the United States and Iran to the deadly “Tanker War” of three decades ago. While those in uniform would not discuss challenges of the proposed mission or be identified by name, their concerns were expressed by outside experts in regional military affairs.And even some officials at the Pentagon and within the Navy have expressed alarm that the mission could return the United States and Iran to the deadly “Tanker War” of three decades ago. While those in uniform would not discuss challenges of the proposed mission or be identified by name, their concerns were expressed by outside experts in regional military affairs.
“No one understand what the United States game plan or strategy here is,” said Vali Nasr, the dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington. “Are we expecting talks with Iran or war with Iran? We’re asking countries to sign up for a strategic initiative without clarity of what we are doing.”“No one understand what the United States game plan or strategy here is,” said Vali Nasr, the dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington. “Are we expecting talks with Iran or war with Iran? We’re asking countries to sign up for a strategic initiative without clarity of what we are doing.”
It remains unclear how the proposal would incorporate contributions from partners in the region. Britain and other allies have not yet received details of the American plan, and are withholding public comment until they can review it.It remains unclear how the proposal would incorporate contributions from partners in the region. Britain and other allies have not yet received details of the American plan, and are withholding public comment until they can review it.
Officials said that escorting individual tankers — there were about 50 a day in June — is not in the plans, as that would require dozens, if not hundreds, of ships. But the increased maritime and surveillance presence now advocated by the Trump administration would put the Iranians on notice that the United States and its allies are monitoring the shipping lanes much more closely, and would be close by if commercial shipping is threatened.Officials said that escorting individual tankers — there were about 50 a day in June — is not in the plans, as that would require dozens, if not hundreds, of ships. But the increased maritime and surveillance presence now advocated by the Trump administration would put the Iranians on notice that the United States and its allies are monitoring the shipping lanes much more closely, and would be close by if commercial shipping is threatened.
State Department officials said the program would seek to get allies to help put cameras on oil tankers and other ships moving through the Persian Gulf. But it would also seek to enlist other countries to send their own ships.State Department officials said the program would seek to get allies to help put cameras on oil tankers and other ships moving through the Persian Gulf. But it would also seek to enlist other countries to send their own ships.
Until a significant number of countries join the plan, or the Trump administration makes a decision to drastically increase the number of Navy warships assigned to the region, the flow of commercial tankers could be watched over by drones that could quickly relay details of a ship in danger, officials said.Until a significant number of countries join the plan, or the Trump administration makes a decision to drastically increase the number of Navy warships assigned to the region, the flow of commercial tankers could be watched over by drones that could quickly relay details of a ship in danger, officials said.
The proposal for persuading European and Persian Gulf allies to assign their warships to protect tankers is a specific, if still initial, step by a president who has made clear that he would like to avoid direct military confrontation. Mr. Trump has veered between offering negotiations and threatening “obliteration,” and he pulled back from strikes on Iran in retaliation for the shooting down of a drone, instead imposing additional sanctions against the country’s supreme leader this week.The proposal for persuading European and Persian Gulf allies to assign their warships to protect tankers is a specific, if still initial, step by a president who has made clear that he would like to avoid direct military confrontation. Mr. Trump has veered between offering negotiations and threatening “obliteration,” and he pulled back from strikes on Iran in retaliation for the shooting down of a drone, instead imposing additional sanctions against the country’s supreme leader this week.
But history has shown that guarding tankers in the gulf can bring the United States and Iran into the exact, direct confrontation that Mr. Trump is seeking to avoid.But history has shown that guarding tankers in the gulf can bring the United States and Iran into the exact, direct confrontation that Mr. Trump is seeking to avoid.
Thirty years ago, during the Iran-Iraq conflict, both countries attacked hundreds of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz in and out of the Persian Gulf, putting a stranglehold on the key transit point for most of the world’s crude oil at the time.Thirty years ago, during the Iran-Iraq conflict, both countries attacked hundreds of vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz in and out of the Persian Gulf, putting a stranglehold on the key transit point for most of the world’s crude oil at the time.
To protect that vital economic lifeline, the United States agreed to reflag Kuwaiti tankers to give them American naval protection as they transited the war zone.To protect that vital economic lifeline, the United States agreed to reflag Kuwaiti tankers to give them American naval protection as they transited the war zone.
The results were deadly: Thirty-seven American sailors aboard a Navy frigate died when it came under attack by an Iraqi warplane, and 290 people on an Iranian commercial airliner were killed when it was attacked by an American guided missile cruiser. An American frigate hit a mine placed by Iran east of Bahrain, blowing a hole in its hull and injuring 10 sailors. Army helicopters attacked an Iranian ship as it was laying mines, killing several sailors and forcing the rest to jump into the sea. And the United States and Iran engaged in a daylong naval battle that saw two Iranian oil rigs and six Iranian vessels sunk or damaged.The results were deadly: Thirty-seven American sailors aboard a Navy frigate died when it came under attack by an Iraqi warplane, and 290 people on an Iranian commercial airliner were killed when it was attacked by an American guided missile cruiser. An American frigate hit a mine placed by Iran east of Bahrain, blowing a hole in its hull and injuring 10 sailors. Army helicopters attacked an Iranian ship as it was laying mines, killing several sailors and forcing the rest to jump into the sea. And the United States and Iran engaged in a daylong naval battle that saw two Iranian oil rigs and six Iranian vessels sunk or damaged.
Then, as now, the crisis began with assurances from American officials that the Navy was in the gulf to assure safe passage for oil tankers.Then, as now, the crisis began with assurances from American officials that the Navy was in the gulf to assure safe passage for oil tankers.
Two European diplomats said this week that neither Britain nor France are keen to join an escort program because that would put those ships in harm’s way and could potentially draw those countries into a conflict. If Iran is looking for ways to hit back at the West for crippling American sanctions that have put a chokehold on the Iranian economy, one diplomat said, an obvious pathway is to mine the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran did during the Tanker War.Two European diplomats said this week that neither Britain nor France are keen to join an escort program because that would put those ships in harm’s way and could potentially draw those countries into a conflict. If Iran is looking for ways to hit back at the West for crippling American sanctions that have put a chokehold on the Iranian economy, one diplomat said, an obvious pathway is to mine the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran did during the Tanker War.
That conflict came with all of the drama of escalatory action on the high seas, including an armed takeover of an Iranian mining boat by Navy SEALs. Tensions had been building for months as the Iran-Iraq war dragged on, but the conflict entered a new phase in May 1987, when the frigate Stark and its crew of 221 men, assigned to protect Kuwaiti tankers from Iran, steamed out of Manama, Bahrain, and headed toward its assigned station “on the edge of the tanker war’s killing zone,” according to David Crist’s book, “The Twilight War: The Secret History of America’s Thirty-Year Conflict with Iran.” That conflict came with all of the drama of escalatory action on the high seas, including an armed takeover of an Iranian mining boat by Navy SEALs. Tensions had been building for months as the Iran-Iraq war dragged on, but the conflict entered a new phase in May 1987 when the frigate Stark and its crew of 221 men, assigned to protect Kuwaiti tankers from Iran, steamed out of Manama, Bahrain, and headed toward its assigned station “on the edge of the tanker war’s killing zone,” according to David Crist’s book, “The Twilight War: The Secret History of America’s Thirty-Year Conflict with Iran.”
Not long after, an Iraqi fighter jet fired two missiles at the Stark, killing 37 sailors. Iraq later accused the ship of being in an area that Iraq considered to be fair game for shooting at Iranian ships.Not long after, an Iraqi fighter jet fired two missiles at the Stark, killing 37 sailors. Iraq later accused the ship of being in an area that Iraq considered to be fair game for shooting at Iranian ships.
President Ronald Reagan pressed on with the reflagging operation.President Ronald Reagan pressed on with the reflagging operation.
“Mark this point well: The use of the vital sea lanes of the Persian Gulf will not be dictated by the Iranians,” Mr. Reagan said in a May 30, 1987, statement. “The Persian Gulf will remain open to navigation by the nations of the world, and I will not permit the Middle East to become a choke point for freedom or a tinderbox of international conflict.”“Mark this point well: The use of the vital sea lanes of the Persian Gulf will not be dictated by the Iranians,” Mr. Reagan said in a May 30, 1987, statement. “The Persian Gulf will remain open to navigation by the nations of the world, and I will not permit the Middle East to become a choke point for freedom or a tinderbox of international conflict.”
But that is exactly what happened. Iran placed mines in the pathways of Kuwaiti tankers — and the American ships escorting them. In July 1987, two months after the Stark episode, a reflagged Kuwaiti tanker — formerly the al-Rekkah but renamed the Bridgeton — set off in an American-protected convoy and struck an Iranian mine near Farsi Island, just as breakfast trays were being passed to the crew on watch, according to Mr. Crist. “The impact sent trays full of bacon and eggs flying as the men held on to keep from being thrown to the ground,” he wrote.But that is exactly what happened. Iran placed mines in the pathways of Kuwaiti tankers — and the American ships escorting them. In July 1987, two months after the Stark episode, a reflagged Kuwaiti tanker — formerly the al-Rekkah but renamed the Bridgeton — set off in an American-protected convoy and struck an Iranian mine near Farsi Island, just as breakfast trays were being passed to the crew on watch, according to Mr. Crist. “The impact sent trays full of bacon and eggs flying as the men held on to keep from being thrown to the ground,” he wrote.
No one was killed, and the hobbled Bridgeton convoy continued to Kuwait at half-speed. American allies in Europe initially balked at requests from the United States to send mine-clearing vessels, viewing such a move as escalatory and dangerous. The American Navy deployed its own minesweepers and, eventually, European countries sent some, as well.No one was killed, and the hobbled Bridgeton convoy continued to Kuwait at half-speed. American allies in Europe initially balked at requests from the United States to send mine-clearing vessels, viewing such a move as escalatory and dangerous. The American Navy deployed its own minesweepers and, eventually, European countries sent some, as well.
On Sept. 21, 1987, crew members aboard Army helicopters deployed from the frigate Jarrett reported that people aboard the Iranian ship Ajr were laying mines. The order came back from the military’s Central Command to stop the mining, and the helicopters fired on the Ajr, killing some of the crewmen and sending others leaping into the water. Later, a team of Navy SEALs boarded the now-empty ship, and confirmed the presence of mines. The next year, the frigate Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine and nearly sank. The Navy matched that mine to the ones seized from the Ajr.On Sept. 21, 1987, crew members aboard Army helicopters deployed from the frigate Jarrett reported that people aboard the Iranian ship Ajr were laying mines. The order came back from the military’s Central Command to stop the mining, and the helicopters fired on the Ajr, killing some of the crewmen and sending others leaping into the water. Later, a team of Navy SEALs boarded the now-empty ship, and confirmed the presence of mines. The next year, the frigate Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine and nearly sank. The Navy matched that mine to the ones seized from the Ajr.
Four days after the attack on the Roberts, the United States launched Operation Praying Mantis, a daylong naval battle on April 18, 1988, against Iran. The United States damaged or sank six Iranian ships.Four days after the attack on the Roberts, the United States launched Operation Praying Mantis, a daylong naval battle on April 18, 1988, against Iran. The United States damaged or sank six Iranian ships.
Then, two and a half months later, Iran Air 655, with 290 people aboard, took off from Tehran for Dubai. Over Iranian territorial waters, the passenger jet was shot down by the Vincennes, a missile cruiser, which mistook it for an Iranian warplane. Everyone aboard the plane was killed.Then, two and a half months later, Iran Air 655, with 290 people aboard, took off from Tehran for Dubai. Over Iranian territorial waters, the passenger jet was shot down by the Vincennes, a missile cruiser, which mistook it for an Iranian warplane. Everyone aboard the plane was killed.