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January 23rd, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda
All three countries retain a permanent military presence in the Gulf, but a
joint passage through the Strait of Hormuz by all of their respective navies
is highly unusual. The flotilla will have passed within a few miles of the
Iranian coastline.
A western official denied this was a provocative move intended to increase the
pressure on Iran. The goal was simply to “illustrate international
resolve” to guarantee free movement of shipping through a vital artery
of the world economy, he said.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed that “HMS Argyll and a French
vessel joined a US carrier group transiting through the Strait of Hormuz to
underline the unwavering international commitment to maintaining rights of
passage under international law.”
The spokesman added that Britain maintains a “constant presence in the
region as part of our enduring contribution to Gulf security”. Royal
Navy warships have been patrolling the region continuously since 1980.
Abraham Lincoln’s entry into the Gulf came in defiance of an explicit warning
from Iran. Earlier this month, General Ataollah Salehi, commander of the
country’s armed forces, threatened to respond with “full force” if
any US carrier ventured into the region’s waters. “We don’t have the
intention of repeating our warning, and we warn only once,” he said.
The Islamic Republic then held a naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz. More
Iranian military manoeuvres, code-named Exercise Noble Prophet, are expected
in the waterway later this week.
Another carrier, USS Carl Vinson, has been in the Gulf and the surrounding
region for several months. Abraham Lincoln’s arrival means a return to the
two-carrier deployment that America has retained in the area for many years.
Each of these Nimitz class vessels carries a complement of fighter aircraft
with more striking power than the entire Iranian air force. Their presence
widens the options open to Western governments should Tehran attempt to
retaliate for tighter sanctions by harassing international shipping lanes.
Iran could do so by laying launching attacks using warships or land-based
anti-shipping missiles. Each of these threats could be countered using
carrier-based aircraft.
However, officials believe that the balance of forces against Iran makes any
such move against the Strait of Hormuz highly unlikely. Iran has an interest
in talking up the possibility because this can raise oil prices and increase
its own revenue at a time when its economy is in severe difficulties.
One official added that no government should dismiss these threats, pointing
to Iran’s actual disruption of shipping in the Gulf in the late 1980s.
Another option that would fall short of launching classic military strikes
would be for Iran to lay mines in shipping lanes.
All US warships deployed in the Gulf, the Red Sea and the western half of the
Indian Ocean are controlled by US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The
Royal Navy also has a small permanent staff based in the Gulf kingdom.
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