WARNING SHOTS Fired As A Dozen Iranian Gunboats Swarm U.S. Warships

A “significant” incident occurred in the Strait of Hormuz when Iranian military gunboats associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated terrorist organization, attempted to swarm six U.S. warships, including the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia, on Monday while the warships were escorting the submarine through the strait.

“Over a dozen Iranian gunboats harass the formation of six U.S. warships including guided-missile submarine Georgia,” Pentagon correspondent Lucas Tomlinson said. “U.S. Coast Guard Cutter fired warning shots in response in the Strait of Hormuz.”

BREAKING: Over a dozen Iranian gunboats harass formation of six U.S. warships including guided-missile submarine Georgia. U.S. Coast Guard cutter fired warning shots in response in Strait of Hormuz: Pentagon

— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) May 10, 2021

John Kirby, Pentagon press secretary, referred to the incident as very “significant” due to the amount of Iranian military vessels involved. Thirteen Iranian vessels have been reported to come within 150 yards of the U.S. warships. Over 30 warning shots were fired at the Iranian vessels.

Toward the end of last month, the U.S. Navy released a video of Iranian military vessels harassing U.S. Forces in the Arabian Gulf.

.@US5thFleet has released video and images of an April 2nd unprofessional interaction by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy in #ArabianGulf. pic.twitter.com/0tGJbffFJR

— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) April 27, 2021

“The activities we typically see from the IRGC Navy are not necessarily activities that are directed by the supreme leader or from the Iranian state,” U.S. Central Command’s General Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie said. “Rather [they are] irresponsible actions by local commanders on the scene. We’re very careful to ensure that we don’t get into a provocative cycle as a result of that. Luckily, our guys are pretty good … they’re very mature and they’re able to de-escalate the situation.”

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) says that Democrat President Joe Biden is struggling in numerous national security and foreign police issues, including Iran.

FDD concluded that Biden’s work on Iran was “very negative” in their latest bi-monthly tracker on the Biden administration’s policies. Here is an exemption from that report:

The Biden administration reportedly offered to lift U.S. terrorism sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran’s agreement to rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal. The offer, which includes sanctions relief for the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), and other entities and sectors behind the financing of Iran-sponsored terrorism and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, would breach earlier commitments made by Secretary Blinken. In 2020, he vowed that if elected, the Biden administration would “continue non-nuclear sanctions as a strong hedge against Iranian misbehavior in other areas.” During his 2021 Senate confirmation hearing, Blinken was asked whether he believed it was in America’s national security interest to lift terrorism sanctions currently imposed on Iran, including the CBI and NIOC. “I do not,” Blinken responded, “and I think there is nothing … inconsistent with making sure that we are doing everything possible – including the toughest possible sanctions, to deal with Iranian support for terrorism.” Last week, however, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price suggested terrorism sanctions imposed on Iran were inconsistent with the nuclear deal – a departure from Blinken’s testimony and a troubling sign that the White House is prepared to cave to the regime’s key demands while gaining nothing tangible in return.