Arab News – June 18, 2021
Two Iranian warships, thought to be trafficking arms to Venezuela, have changed course and are now moving up Africa’s west coast.
The Biden administration had been pressuring Venezuela, Cuba and other countries in the region to turn the ships away, and a senior US official warned that it would take “appropriate measures” to prevent the delivery of arms to its hemisphere, which it views as a threat.
American officials believe that the diplomatic outreach can be credited for the ships’ change of course.
Iran’s recently unvieled Sahand. Click to enlarge
According to US news outlet Politico, a defense official believes that the ships are now headed for Syria via the Mediterranean, or for Russia.
The two ships are composed of a domestically manufactured destroyer, the Sahand, and the Makran (pictured above), a former oil tanker fitted with a helipad and other military upgrades to make it a support vessel.
TankerTrackers.com tweeted: “We believe that the Iranian navy vessels MAKRAN and SAHAND are on their way to Syria in order to engage in navy exercises with Russia.”
Tehran has invested considerable amounts of money and manpower to prop up the Assad regime in Syria, including by providing personnel and funding, and by arming militias.
In the past, satellite imagery has shown fast attack boats on the Makran’s deck — vessels regularly used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to harass the commercial and military vessels of Iran’s adversaries, including US Navy and Coast Guard ships.
The White House and Pentagon have refused to comment publicly on the ships’ movements, but speaking before a committee last week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers: “I’m absolutely concerned about the proliferation of weapons, any type of weapons, in our neighborhood.”
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton referred to the ships as “pirate ships,” saying the US “has a legitimate right of self-defense against both of them.”
The journey that the ships have undertaken is the longest of any Iranian warship in history. US Sen. Mark Rubio tweeted: “This does not look like an oil or fuel cargo delivery. This has all the markings of delivery on an arms sale (such as fast attack boats) to Venezuela coupled with the opportunity to project a message of strength to the Biden administration.”
Politico reported last year that Venezuela, also a US adversary, was considering purchasing long-range missiles from Tehran — a move considered a “red line” by Washington. That sale never came to pass.
Countries ruled by Mohammed, Marx or Mammon, the blind resenting the blind.
THE GOOD OLD DAYS
We used to have Reagan, Johnny Cash, and Bob Hope.
Now we have Biden, no cash, and no hope.
When America, Israel and the rest all sell arms to despotic regimes it’s “business”, but when Iran tries to sell arms to an ally which is being illegally targeted by the US, because its massive oil reserves belong to people who vote into power a left-leaning government, their arms sales suddenly become trafficking arms or gun-running.
This duplicity is why the US and its minions have collectively become a Mafia plc running international protection rackets, where you do as we say or we’ll attack you, and why even white English-speaking people like me want to see them get their heads shoved up their own asses. They contaminate us all.
Is it really a course change, or were they actually heading somewhere else (Syria the long way, as a shakeout cruise?) Either way, it would be highly unlikely for any military confrontation between US naval forces, but much more likely now for other (Israeli) forces.
NOW might be an ideal time to GTFO of Syria!!!
Bolton, doesn’t he have something else to do, some WMD in Iraq to find?
the bigest pirate nation are USA since their
coast guard ships seize all boats + sailships in
all international waters for political cunning
reasons ! like they are the biggest terrorist state !
Iran’s navy general explained this mission and its objectives one by one clearly on national TV, nothing has changed and they are on course.
US did not take “appropriate measure” the last time when 5 Iranian tankers reached Venezuela and saved it from US economic terrorism.
i mean – venezuela and cuba the arch enemy of the usa cowtoing to the usa request? c.mon pull the other one.
tresmegistus .. They do have wet dreams ? They do & its originated from Pedowood aka Hollywood….