Mike Norris, Co-Editor, The American Dossier
Today, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that the Revolutionary Guard shot down an RQ-4 Global Hawk drone belonging to the United States (“U.S.”). The report stated that the drone was shot down when it entered Iranian airspace, near the Kouhmobarak district in the Hormozgan province.
Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command (“CENTCOM”), declined to comment when asked if an American drone was shot down. However, he stated: “There was no drone over Iranian territory.”
The reported shoot down comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. Last year President Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal, reinstating sanctions that have greatly affected Iran’s economy.
In an attempt to pressure the west for new terms, Iran announced that on June 27th it would surpass the stockpile limit for enriched uranium set under the 2015 deal. Iran’s atomic energy agency said it had quadrupled production of the material, which is used to make reactor fuel and nuclear weapons.
But, Iran added, there was "still time" for European countries to act by protecting Iran from reinstated U.S. sanctions.
The U.K., France and Germany have warned Iran not to violate the deal. A violation, they state, would leave them with no choice but to reimpose their own sanctions, which were lifted in response to Iran’s agreement to the deal.
In response to Iran’s declaration, the Trump administration announced plans to send 900 troops to the Middle East and extend the deployment of 600 more. The centerpiece of the administration’s response is the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln and its contingent of 44 F-18 Super Hornets.
Accompanying the Lincoln are three destroyers, the U.S.S. Bainbridge, the U.S.S. Mason and the U.S.S. Nitze, and the guided-missile cruiser the U.S.S. Leyte Gulf. The U.S. also diverted four B-52 bombers to the region, which are now operating from al-Udeid air base in Qatar.
Between mid-May and mid-June, Iran engaged in a series of events determined to escalate tensions with the U.S.
In May, four oil tankers were damaged near the Strait of Hormuz. Two of them belonged to Saudi Arabia, one belonged to the United Arab Emirates, while the fourth was owned by a Norwegian company.
On June 13, two vessels, one owned by a Japanese company and the other by a Norwegian firm, were disabled in the Gulf of Oman by limpet mines. Limpet mines are magnetic and are often attached to a ship by an underwater attack team.
The U.S. immediately blamed Iran for the attack, a charge Tehran denies. In the days since, video and pictures have been released that not only prove Iran was behind the attack, but that it also tried to cover it up.
On Sunday, House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) stated “[t]here’s no question that Iran is behind the attacks. I think the evidence is very strong and compelling.” Two days later, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there was “strong evidence” Iran committed the two strikes.
Vice Admiral Michael Gilday told reporters that the U.S. had “very high confidence” that Iran was responsible for the explosions. On Wednesday, a U.S. Navy explosives expert said the mines used to disable the vessels bore “a striking resemblance” to ones used by Iran in the past.
Middle East expert Bobby Ghosh writes that Iran’s attacks may be an attempt to “blackmail” the West. Although Iran is a regional power, its options for countering the U.S. and its European allies are few.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial maritime passage, through which a third of the world’s liquefied natural gas and approximately 20% of the world’s oil production flows. Iran’s best option is to threaten to disrupt the global energy market.
It will likely take days, weeks or even months for investigators to find out exactly who is behind the attack. But if it is determined to be Iran, Col. Mark Cancian (U.S.M.C. Ret.) believes the U.S. forces in the area will make quick work of Iran’s navy.
“The U.S. has assets designed to take on Russia and China. Iran’s ships are very exposed. I’d expect the U.S. would be able to sink Iran’s navy in about two days.”
After serving as an Airborne Infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division, Mike attended Florida State University, where he received his Bachelors Degree in Political Science and George Washington University, where he received his Masters in Political Management.
Since 2004, Mike has worked in the Florida Senate, where he was one of only two Chief’s of Staff under 30 and in the Michigan Senate, where he served as the Legislative Aide to the Assistant Minority Floor Leader. The 2018 election cycle was Mike’s eighth as a Political Consultant.
Mike previously served as the Secretary and Vice President of the Tampa Bay Young Republicans, Regional Vice Chair for the Florida Federated Young Republicans and attended the 2012 Republican National Convention as an Alternate Delegate. He currently lives in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, with his rescue Pit Bull, Ike.
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