UPDATE 1 May 2015: U.S. National Military Command Authority has directed that all United States-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz will be escorted by elements of the U.S. 5th Fleet. This directive is immediate and of indefinite duration. As of 06:30 Zulu (GMT) this morning the Maersk Tigris remains at anchor in the same position indicated on the map above. It's unlawful seizure on the high seas indicates an inherent weakness within the Iranian regime. 72 hours after the seizure of Maersk Tigris and the view appears to be that Iran has both overreached its military capabilities and bitten off more than it can chew. As a result Iran is strategically and literally situated between Iraq and a hard place. It can either opt for open hostilities or remain pinned in its corner.
29 April 2015: I have created the above map from maritime tracking data which was current as of 5 hours ago (2:45 PM EDT). This track shows the Maersk Tigris was just emerging from the inbound shipping channel of the Strait of Hormuz, and was heading for its next port call at Jebel Ali, UAE when IRGC Naval forces intercepted, fired upon, hijacked on the high seas and then forced the ship's captain to take a northerly course out of Omani territorial waters and into Iranian territorial waters. This ship is now at anchor just off the eastern end of Qeshm Island, and due south of port Bandar Abbas. This action is nothing less than armed piracy on the high seas.
28 April 2015: In the Persian Gulf Strait of Hormuz IRGC Navy forces have fired upon and attempted to seize the MV Maersk Tigris, a 52,000-ton merchant vessel operating under the Marshall Islands flag. Pentagon sources say there are no US citizens on board the vessel. IRGC Naval forces are reportedly attempting to take the merchant vessel into port Bandar Abbas, the home port of IRGC naval forces.
29 April 2015: I have created the above map from maritime tracking data which was current as of 5 hours ago (2:45 PM EDT). This track shows the Maersk Tigris was just emerging from the inbound shipping channel of the Strait of Hormuz, and was heading for its next port call at Jebel Ali, UAE when IRGC Naval forces intercepted, fired upon, hijacked on the high seas and then forced the ship's captain to take a northerly course out of Omani territorial waters and into Iranian territorial waters. This ship is now at anchor just off the eastern end of Qeshm Island, and due south of port Bandar Abbas. This action is nothing less than armed piracy on the high seas.
28 April 2015: In the Persian Gulf Strait of Hormuz IRGC Navy forces have fired upon and attempted to seize the MV Maersk Tigris, a 52,000-ton merchant vessel operating under the Marshall Islands flag. Pentagon sources say there are no US citizens on board the vessel. IRGC Naval forces are reportedly attempting to take the merchant vessel into port Bandar Abbas, the home port of IRGC naval forces.
US aircraft and the guided missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG-99) are in the process of responding the MV Maersk Tigris distress calls. As of 11:35 EDT (18 minutes) ago a maritime website reported that the Maersk Tigris had suddenly changed course in the direction of port Jebel Ali in the UAE. It is also reported that armed IRGC naval personnel might be onboard the Maersk Tigris.
I have been expecting something like this. I think the Iranians are trying to make a point that says the Us and it's allies may deny us access to the port of Aden, but we cany deny you access to the straight of Hormuz. I don't think the Us or really the world can accept that attotude. So this has the potential of getting real nasty. Just a couple of thoughts.
ReplyDeleteHi Sean,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your good updates as they are really appreciated. The media reports are so slanted and liberal that we never get the truth or even a report on what is happening:-(!
The frightening thing about this latest update is that buffoon (obozo) running the White-house will do nothing and allow Iran to get worse..... just like Chamberlain "Peace in our time" - total appeasement?
But as usual Sean will say it is being controlled by our God and he is 100% correct:-)
Iran has a very limited menu of options at this juncture. Any overt hostility on its part could well result in Jeremiah 49:34-39.
ReplyDeleteThe current situation is near impossible for prideful Iranians to swallow, so my best guess is that Iran will soon make a tactical military blunder and pay for it dearly.