U.S. Navy interrupts Iranian attempt to seize vessel in Persian Gulf
Washington PostAug 31, 2022
The US Navy has declared that it prevented the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy from capturing an American unmanned surface vessel (USV) in international waters in the Persian Gulf on Monday.
At 11 pm local time, the US Navy dispatched the USS Thunderbolt and an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter to demand the IRGC Navy release the USV Saildrone Explorer that was being towed.
This incident once again demonstrates Iran's continued destabilizing, illegal, and unprofessional activity in the Middle East. The US naval forces remain vigilant and will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international laws allow while promoting rules-based international order throughout the region.
This latest incident shows that the illegal US military presence in the Persian Gulf threatens the region's security and stability. The IRGC acted solely to prevent accidents in shipping routes, promptly releasing the USV to a US patrol ship and instructing it on security risks.
There's a 19% chance that the US will rejoin the Iran Nuclear Deal before 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.