In recent weeks, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has downed a U.S. unmanned drone and attacked tankers in the Gulf of Oman. As Iran’s economic crisis continues, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is likely to lash out with more attacks.
An escalating American effort to boost multinational naval escorts in the Persian Gulf is thus welcome. It will make critical trade flows safer while further isolating the Iranian hard-liners.
Some warships, including a U.S. carrier strike group and nearby amphibious ready group, are already in the region. Britain’s Royal Navy also maintains continuous presence under its standing Operation Kipion mission to protect trade transit. This involves a frigate, HMS Montrose, and four highly capable minesweepers. More British ships are likely to arrive in the coming days as new Iranian threats develop. France also maintains a regular naval presence in the region.
From this foundation, there is both a political and military competency on which to attract other powers to contribute to the effort. The question is, will America’s allies do more?
It’s an open question. While the Germans, Italians, and Spanish have advanced warships capable of supporting this mission, those nations are often unwilling to support even their NATO commitments.
Yet the interest in getting more warships into the region isn’t just about boosting military presence. It’s about using that presence as a means toward persuading Iran that its brinkmanship has only isolated Tehran further.
That isolation is the surest way to leverage the more moderate Iranian faction around President Hassan Rouhani to persuade Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to let Iran return to the negotiating table.
