[Global Times Comprehensive Report] The US Navy issued a navigational notice directed at Iran on the 19th, saying that in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea international waters or straits, all ships should be at least 100 meters away from US warships, otherwise they will be "considered as a threat And take legal defensive measures ". The U.S. Naval Central Command in Bahrain stated that the circular was designed to increase safety and reduce disputes and misjudgments. After the latest threat from the US military, the Iranian Student News Agency quoted an unnamed military official in the country on the 20th as saying that the Iranian navy will continue to perform "conventional tasks" in the Persian Gulf.
According to the "Washington Post" report on the 20th, this is a specific guideline recently proposed by the US military after close contact with Iranian ships in the Persian Gulf. Defensive measures usually include honking, firing flares, and gun warnings, but giving a specific distance is a new requirement for the US Navy. Although 100 meters seems quite far away, for a large battleship like an aircraft carrier that is difficult to turn quickly, this is an incredible close encounter. Rebaric, a spokesman for the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, said on the 20th, "Our ships are performing routine tasks in international waters permitted by international law and do not seek conflicts. Our commanders reserve the right to defend themselves if deemed necessary. "
"The New York Times" said on the 20th that in late April, 11 Iranian speedboats "hazardously harassed" 6 US warships in the Persian Gulf, the nearest distance is only 9 meters. Later, US President Trump said on Twitter that he had notified the US Navy that if any ships harassed US warships, they would be destroyed. The Pentagon said that Trump ’s threats aimed to emphasize the US military ’s right to self-defense. Iranian military leaders responded to Trump ’s threat that if Iran ’s security in the Gulf region is threatened, it will destroy US warships.
Agence France-Presse said on the 20th that U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin announced on the same day that sanctions were imposed on Iran ’s Minister of the Interior Fazli, seven officers of the police force and one commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard of Iran and three Iranian institutions including the police . A statement from the US Treasury Department stated that Fazli authorized the use of force by the Iranian police force during the November 2019 protests, resulting in many deaths. All sanctioned officials ’assets in the United States will be frozen, and U.S. financial institutions are prohibited from trading with them. (Responsibility)