Iran planning to send warships to U.S. east coast

[alexmst]

(CNN) -- Iran plans to send ships near the Atlantic coast of the United States, state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported Tuesday, quoting a commander.

"The Navy of the Iranian Army will have a powerful presence near the United States borders," read the headline of the story, in Farsi.

"Commander of the Navy of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran broke the news about the plans for the presence of this force in the Atlantic Ocean and said that the same way that the world arrogant power is present near our marine borders, we, with the help of our sailors who follow the concept of the supreme jurisprudence, shall also establish a powerful presence near the marine borders of the United States," the story said. The reference to the "world arrogant power" was presumably intended to refer to the United States.

IRNA cited the force's website as saying that the announcement was made by Adm. Habibollah Sayari on the 31st anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war.

State-run Press TV said Sayari had announced similar plans in July. In February, two Iranian Navy ships went through the Suez Canal in the first such voyages by Iranian ships since 1979.

U.S. Defense Department officials had no immediate reaction to Tuesday's announcement. The United States has deployed fleets to the Persian Gulf in the past.

State-run Press TV, citing IRNA, said Tuesday's announcement came as Iran also plans to send its 16th fleet of warships to the Gulf of Aden to protect Iranian vessels and oil tankers from pirates, who have hijacked dozens of ships and exchanged their crews for ransom.

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I wonder if the Second Fleet needs any target practice...:evil:

 

[Aardvark154]

Believe it when I see it.


Iran currently has in service: five frigates, two elderly corvettes, and 24 Patrol Missle boats. As to the former [ten at 38.6 x 6.8 x 2.7 meters (126.6 x 22.3 x 8.9 ft) and fourteen at 47 x 7.1 x 1.9 meters (154 x 23 x 6 ft)] making to the U.S. on their own bottoms. . . .

 

[onthebottom]

Talk about a floating target....

OTB

 

[Asterix]

The Navy of the Iranian Army? That's a new one. Have they actually been out in an ocean before?

 

[CapitalGuy]

I wonder how many refuellers they have? I wonder how many arrangements they have with nations on either side of the Atlantic to service their ships should they need repair? Ya don't just pull into any old nearby port and ask them to fill 'er up and fix your broken generator while you're at it, and oh yeah could we have fourteen thousand dates and a tonne of tea. I wonder if Iran has secure communications satellite coverage off the US northeast coast, or any kind of satellite coverage in that part of the world. Etc.

Anyhow.....

 

[onthebottom]

Really, you have to hope they try, could be hilarious....

OTB

 

[Aardvark154]

I wonder how many refuellers they have?

One, dating from the late 1970's

 

[Aardvark154]

The Navy of the Iranian Army? That's a new one.

Just as bad is "The People's Liberation Army Navy" (PRC).

 

[onthebottom]

One, dating from the late 1970's

And the air support...

OTB

 

[WoodPeckr]

What's funny is there are probably a few paranoid GOPers who have soiled their panties over this...

 

[papasmerf]

Half a dozen water gnats armed with BBQ and piolted by naked women should be enough to stop them.

 

[Mervyn]

As long as they don't try and take our fish, they'll be fine

 

[fuji]

The Navy of the Iranian Army? That's a new one. Have they actually been out in an ocean before?

They have, and they are a serious threat.... anywhere within sight of the Iranian shoreline. Their most formidable naval force is their fleet of speedboats. I'm not kidding. The straights into the Gulf are so narrow that they are well within speedboat range of the Iranian coastline, and the Iranians have a fleet of speedboats that they can use to blow up pretty much any ship entering or leaving the Gulf. Since those speedboats are small, light, and fast moving, and can be hidden along the shoreline, they can dart out and blow up a ship realistically before the defenders would be able to do much about it--since the defenders would necessarily have to come in close to the shore to pass into the Gulf. As such they can project considerable power into the Persian Gulf (not a coincidental name).

Outside of that, though, I am not sure how long an Iranian ship would have to fire on a US warship before anybody on the US ship actually noticed that they were under attack. It might be awhile.

 

[alexmst]

(CNN) -- It would be nearly impossible for Iran's navy to threaten the U.S. coast with warships, military experts said Wednesday.

Overnight Tuesday, Iranian state news quoted a commander as saying his country plans to have a "powerful presence" near the U.S. border.

A Pentagon spokesman responded Wednesday by questioning if Iran was capable of carrying out the stated plan.

George Little told reporters that Iran has the right to send vessels into international waters, but "whether they can truly project naval power beyond the region is another question."

"I wouldn't read too much into what came out of Iran today," Little said, adding: "I think what is said and what is actually done can be two different things."

State-run Press TV in Iran said similar plans were announced in July. However, no Iranian warships ever deployed. In February, two Iranian Navy vessels t**********sed the Suez Canal in the first such voyage by Iranian ships since 1979.

Richard Herrmann, director of the Mershon Center for International Security Studies at The Ohio State University said Iran's navy is too small with too miniscule a budget to remain for long off the U.S. coast.

"This is hard to take seriously because Iran's navy is very small. This force, whatever it may be, is going to be puny, especially compared to the U.S. Navy," said Herrmann, who specializes in the use of imagery and posturing in international conflicts. "Iran doesn't have the capability to come within close proximity to (the United States) to conduct hostile activities. Even if (Iran) launched missiles, we would sink their ships immediately."

Iran lacks battleships or aircraft carriers. Its forces are capable of patrolling the Persian Gulf and sailing a short distance in the Indian Ocean, Herrmann said, but keeping ships stationed near the United States, so far from Iran, would be too expensive for the government.

"They would need a place to resupply, refuel, restock crews with food and water. They couldn't afford that unless they got help," Herrmann said. "I would imagine they could get help from somewhere in South America, maybe Venezuela."

Venezuela and Iran are allied by their anti-U.S. sentiments.

The idea of Iran moving ships near the U.S. coast is not on par with the Soviet Union projecting military power close to the United States during the Cold War.
Those were different circumstances and different players.

Michael Connell, the director of the Iranian studies program at CNA, a Washington-area think tank that specializes in naval analyses, agreed with Herrmann.

"Their navy can't even each our coastline right now," Connell said, describing the Iranian announcement as "bombastic rhetoric."

"It's posturing" by Iran intended for both its domestic and regional audience, Connell said. Making such pronouncements projects a dominant role including naval power, whether or not they can back it up, he added.

 

[New Guy]

Pay the somali pirates to chase them dowm.

Now that I'd pay for.

.

 

[onthebottom]

I'd love to see them try... would give them a very real understanding of what we are capable of parking multiple Carrier Battle Groups off their coast at will.

OTB

 

[wet_suit_one]

I'd love to see them try... would give them a very real understanding of what we are capable of parking multiple Carrier Battle Groups off their coast at will.

OTB

As per my other comment on the U.S. embassy in Iraq thread, the equivalent of a fleet of Star Destroyers. Still though, the real thing, a huge wedge shaped starship, bristling with turbolasers and ion cannons would be cool (other than being utterly useless in most practical matters). I guess nuclear armerd carrier strike fleets with a carrier air wing will have to do.

Yes, I'm into the sauce tonight. Don't hate the messenger, just pass the tequila!

 

[onthebottom]

As per my other comment on the U.S. embassy in Iraq thread, the equivalent of a fleet of Star Destroyers. Still though, the real thing, a huge wedge shaped starship, bristling with turbolasers and ion cannons would be cool (other than being utterly useless in most practical matters). I guess nuclear armerd carrier strike fleets with a carrier air wing will have to do.

Yes, I'm into the sauce tonight. Don't hate the messenger, just pass the tequila!

Don't drive....

OTB

 

[danmand]

Don't drive....

And keep the salt and limon away from your keyboard.