Aragorn
27-03-2007, 19:59
U.S. launches naval exercises in Persian Gulf 3/27/2007 3:00:00 PM GMT
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(AFP) An image grab taken from Al-Alam TV shows a U.S. aircraft carrier cruising in Gulf waters
http://www.aljazeera.com/ajnew/white.gifThe U.S. Navy said it launched its largest demonstration of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of [URL="http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=9964"]Iraq (http://cuba.alclick.com/adclick.php?n=a4fc5beb).
The naval exercises are led by two navy aircraft carrier strike groups which the U.S. deployed in the Gulf region, backed by more than 100 American warplanes that would carry out simulated attack maneuvers off the coast of Iran.
The exercises come amid growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran over its nuclear (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10023)program, which the West suspects is aimed at developing atomic weapons, despite Tehran’s insistence that it is strictly for peaceful purposes.
The nuclear (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10023)standoff has stirred speculation that Israel or the U.S. could attack Tehran’s nuclear (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10023)facilities, a move that Iran vowed to retaliate against.
Washington hasn’t ruled out using force against Iran, but claims that it wants to resolve the nuclear (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10023)standoff through diplomacy.
The U.S. naval exercises also come just four days after Iran arrested 15 British sailors and marines who Tehran said had illegally entered Iranian territorial waters near the Gulf.
Britain and the U.S. Navy claim that the Britons were operating in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate.
However, the U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kevin Aandahl said the naval exercises were not organized in response to the arrest of the British sailors, nor were they aimed at threatening Tehran, whose navy operates in the same waters.
Aandahl also said that the U.S. warships would stay out of Iranian waters, which extend 12 miles off the Iranian coast.
It’s worth mentioning that a French naval strike group, led by the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, was operating simultaneously just outside the Gulf. But officials said the French ships were backing the NATO forces in Afghanistan (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=1029)and not participating in the U.S. maneuvers.
Overall, the U.S. exercises involve more than 10,000 U.S. personnel on warships and aircraft making simulated attacks on enemy shipping with aircraft and ships, hunting enemy submarines and finding mines, Aandahl said.
"What it should be seen as by Iran or anyone else is that it's for regional stability and security," Aandahl said. "These ships are just another demonstration of that. If there's a destabilizing effect, it's Iran's behavior."
Some analysts believe that the U.S. is now trying to provoke Iran into an action Washington could use as an excuse for an attack.
Correspondents say the fact that there are now two U.S. excuses for a strike against Iran – the nuclear (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10023)program and Washington’s allegations that Tehran is aiding the Iraqi resistance – is a concern for Iranian people.
Blair warns Iran over sailors' capture Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10398)warned Iran that Britain’s efforts to secure the release of the 15 sailors will enter a "different phase" if diplomatic moves fail.
"I hope we manage to get them to realize they have to release them. If not, then this will move into a different phase,” Blair (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10398)warned.
Blair (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10398)’s official spokesman said the comments didn’t refer to any extreme diplomatic action, such as expelling Iranian diplomats from Britain, or military action.
On Tuesday, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman quoted by AP said the Britons were in good health, being treated in a humane manner and that the only woman in the detained group had been given privacy
An Iranian official also told the BBC that the group is being interrogated to find out if their mission was intelligence-gathering. He said the investigations involved examining tracking equipment to determine exactly where they were arrested.
In order for the Britons to be released "every vested interest in Iran would need to be satisfied they had not deliberately entered Iranian waters, nor were they spying", the official said.
-- AJP and Agencies
[/URL]
http://www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/news_service/pics/13018.jpg
http://www.aljazeera.com/ajnew/white.gif
(AFP) An image grab taken from Al-Alam TV shows a U.S. aircraft carrier cruising in Gulf waters
http://www.aljazeera.com/ajnew/white.gifThe U.S. Navy said it launched its largest demonstration of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of [URL="http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=9964"]Iraq (http://cuba.alclick.com/adclick.php?n=a4fc5beb).
The naval exercises are led by two navy aircraft carrier strike groups which the U.S. deployed in the Gulf region, backed by more than 100 American warplanes that would carry out simulated attack maneuvers off the coast of Iran.
The exercises come amid growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran over its nuclear (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10023)program, which the West suspects is aimed at developing atomic weapons, despite Tehran’s insistence that it is strictly for peaceful purposes.
The nuclear (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10023)standoff has stirred speculation that Israel or the U.S. could attack Tehran’s nuclear (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10023)facilities, a move that Iran vowed to retaliate against.
Washington hasn’t ruled out using force against Iran, but claims that it wants to resolve the nuclear (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10023)standoff through diplomacy.
The U.S. naval exercises also come just four days after Iran arrested 15 British sailors and marines who Tehran said had illegally entered Iranian territorial waters near the Gulf.
Britain and the U.S. Navy claim that the Britons were operating in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate.
However, the U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kevin Aandahl said the naval exercises were not organized in response to the arrest of the British sailors, nor were they aimed at threatening Tehran, whose navy operates in the same waters.
Aandahl also said that the U.S. warships would stay out of Iranian waters, which extend 12 miles off the Iranian coast.
It’s worth mentioning that a French naval strike group, led by the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, was operating simultaneously just outside the Gulf. But officials said the French ships were backing the NATO forces in Afghanistan (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=1029)and not participating in the U.S. maneuvers.
Overall, the U.S. exercises involve more than 10,000 U.S. personnel on warships and aircraft making simulated attacks on enemy shipping with aircraft and ships, hunting enemy submarines and finding mines, Aandahl said.
"What it should be seen as by Iran or anyone else is that it's for regional stability and security," Aandahl said. "These ships are just another demonstration of that. If there's a destabilizing effect, it's Iran's behavior."
Some analysts believe that the U.S. is now trying to provoke Iran into an action Washington could use as an excuse for an attack.
Correspondents say the fact that there are now two U.S. excuses for a strike against Iran – the nuclear (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10023)program and Washington’s allegations that Tehran is aiding the Iraqi resistance – is a concern for Iranian people.
Blair warns Iran over sailors' capture Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10398)warned Iran that Britain’s efforts to secure the release of the 15 sailors will enter a "different phase" if diplomatic moves fail.
"I hope we manage to get them to realize they have to release them. If not, then this will move into a different phase,” Blair (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10398)warned.
Blair (http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=10398)’s official spokesman said the comments didn’t refer to any extreme diplomatic action, such as expelling Iranian diplomats from Britain, or military action.
On Tuesday, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman quoted by AP said the Britons were in good health, being treated in a humane manner and that the only woman in the detained group had been given privacy
An Iranian official also told the BBC that the group is being interrogated to find out if their mission was intelligence-gathering. He said the investigations involved examining tracking equipment to determine exactly where they were arrested.
In order for the Britons to be released "every vested interest in Iran would need to be satisfied they had not deliberately entered Iranian waters, nor were they spying", the official said.
-- AJP and Agencies