Iranian Warship Escorts Cargo Vessel to Yemen

Iran said its humanitarian aid ship, M/V Iran Shahed, has reached the Gulf of Aden en route to the Yemeni port of Hudaydah, the country’s largest, and is expected to reach its destination by Thursday 21 May. The Iranian navy also announced its warship IRINS Alborz (72), an Alvand (Vosper MK5)-class frigate, will escort the cargo ship to Hudaydah. The replenishment ship Bandar Abbas (421) is also accompanying Alborz. Iran is challenging the Saudi-led coalition power to inspect Yemen-bound ships to enforce UN arms embargo against the Huthis. 

File photo: IRINS Alborz (72), an Alvand (Vosper MK5)-class frigate (Rooholla Vahdati/ISNA)

Iran Deploys Warships off Yemen’s Coast

The Iranian Navy said it has deployed warships to the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday on a mission to protect shipping from piracy. The move puts Iranian warships off the Yemeni coast during the escalation of conflict in the country. The Huthis insurgents have taking control of Yemen’s major cities by force, prompting Saudi-led coalition airstrikes and fears of expansion of the conflict.

Iran is the main supporter of the Huthis. Today, Secretary of State John Kerry said during a PBS interview that Iran supplies arms to the Huthis, including through regular flights to Yemen. (PBS NewsHour, 8 April)

Iran’s 34th Naval Group deployed to the Gulf of Aden comprises of two ships: IRINS Alborz (72), Alvand (Vosper MK5)- class frigate, and Bandar Abbas (421), a Bandar Abbas-class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessel.

File photo: IRINS Alborz (72), Alvand (Vosper MK5)-class frigate (Rooholla Vahdati/ISNA)

Old Times

Students of Aryamehr University, now Sharif, watching soccer game, circa 1968. Among them are some of this blogger’s (Nader Uskowi) old friends and Alborz classmates. Photo: old-pic.blogspot.com

Iran's potential response to USN shipping interdiction

By Mark Pyruz

IRIS Jamaran (76) and IRIS Alborz (72)

At his latest press conference, President Ahmadinejad today warned that any inspections of its ships related to sanctions could provoke a response by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"If they make the slightest mistake we will definitely respond," Ahmadinejad said.

Some observers have criticized Iran's naval forces for being relatively weak in overall strength, particularly when compared to the US Navy Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf waters. They also point out Iran's naval forces are less than state of the art. But these naval forces, while relatively small and somewhat under-equipped, are adequately suited for selectively targeted merchant shipping interdiction, including boarding, inspection and search of a ship at sea; second, taking measures including any combination of arresting the vessel, arresting persons aboard or seizing cargo.

Naval vessels and armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) in the Persian Gulf, are able to conduct such operations. These include the Alvand class frigates, Moudge class frigate and Thondar class missile crafts.

Lineup of four IRGCN Thondar class missile craft

Of course, such actions are extremely risky for the Islamic Republic, as escalation could quickly follow. However, the same risks apply to the United States, which could lead to a cascading of events resulting in the breakout of open hostilities. Just the temporary stoppage or seizure of a merchant ship by Iranian naval forces, alone, particularly near the Straight of Hormuz, could lead to a dramatic spike in shipping insurance rates and the price of crude oil. It would likely even prompt some form of active USN escort coverage.

The previous round of sanctions technically called for a potential inspection regimen of "suspected" Iranian related shipping, but it was not acted upon in a meaningful or provocative manner. The ball is again in the court of the United States, on whether or not we'll see such a turn of events associated with this latest round of sanctioning.

Trio of Kaman class (Combattante IIB type) missile boats

IRIS Jamaran Weapons Testing

IRIS Jamaran successfully test fires Noor AShM.

IRIS Jamaran (76) and IRIS Alborz (72).

IRIS Alborz Captain (Nakhoda Yekom) and Lieutenant (Nav Sarvan). Note skipper's American style cap and vessel designation, as well as the fraternal nature of the crew.

Alborz Returns from Aden

IRIN Alborz Returning from Aden
Bandar Abbas. 7 July 2009. Mehr Photo

IRIN frigate Alborz returned to Bandar Abbas today after patrolling the waters off Gulf of Aden. The British-made frigate, commissioned in 1971, was deployed to Aden to protect Iranian oil tankers and merchant ships against the pirates. The frigate became the first IRIN ship to take part in naval operation in international waters. Accompanying Alborz, was IRIN Busheher which also returned to its port of Badar Abbas today.

IRIN has deployed two more ships from their home port of Jask to Gulf of Aden. The IRIN Naghdi, a US-made patrol frigate commissioned in 1964, and IRIN Bandar Abbas.