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Mysterious cruise of Iranian ships. "Challenge to the American Presence"

Photo:Reuters

 

The World Daily | News Desk           MAY  31st   2021

 

According to Politico journalists, the US national security services are monitoring two Iranian warships, the ultimate target of which may be Venezuela. They flow south along the east coast of Africa. "Politico" informs about the mysterious cruise of the Iranian frigate and the former oil tanker Makran, which has been transformed into a floating base.

 

Politico points out that this would be a provocative move at a tense moment in US-Iran relations.

 

Both countries face US sanctions

 

According to the website, US officials do not know for sure the destinations of the ships. They think they may be headed to Venezuela.

"The two countries facing severe US sanctions have developed closer ties in the last few years. The cooperation includes transporting gasoline to joint projects involving car and cement factories," explains Politico, adding that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was warned by his associates before accepting the ship. However, his reaction is unknown.

Legislators on the Capitol Hill, who have access to confidential information, also know about a mission whose purpose may change.

"The presence of Iranian warships in the US backyard would challenge the US presence in the region - and would likely fuel the debate in Washington over President Joe Biden's announcement to restart negotiations with Tehran," the portal noted. 

 

According to the Iranian media, Makran is 230 meters long. It was commissioned this year and can serve as a platform for electronic warfare and special operations missions. The authorities in Tehran also indicate that the ship is equipped with missiles and its modern weapons. It can carry six to seven helicopters as well as drones.

According to Politico, both the spokesmen of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry and the Iranian mission to the United Nations declined to comment. So did the spokesmen of the White House and the Pentagon.

According to the portal, the Iran mission is particularly unfortunate for those hoping to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran.

"Successive governments in Tehran and Caracas tend to oppose the United States, with which each country has a complicated history. The Venezuelan government was one of the first to recognize the Islamic Republic after overthrowing the Shah, the US ally in the Middle East in 1979," reminds the portal.

He also emphasizes that Tehran regularly opposes the presence of American warships in the Persian Gulf region. He had threatened a similar demonstration of force in the American backyard before, but never acted on it. 

 

© The World Daily 2021 | News Desk

Source: Politico

 

 

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