Bidenpolitik: A Foreign Policy Without Coherence - The American Spectator
American SpectatorJan 01
Iranian Warship Arrives in Red Sea
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Image copyright: Tasnim News Agency via Wikimedia Commons (April 2017)
The Facts
Iranian state media has announced that Iran has deployed its naval warship Alborz to the Red Sea region amid heightened regional tensions both in the strategic waterway and in Gaza.
Iranian warships reportedly have operated in open waters since 2009 on maritime security missions regarding trade, piracy, and other operations. The Red Sea-deployed Alborz has previously operated in the Gulf of Aden, the north region of the Indian Ocean, and the Strait of Bab Al-Mandab since 2015 per Iranian state media.
The Spin
Anti-Iran narrative
The presence of an Iranian warship in the Red Sea has sparked fears that the Gaza conflict could escalate into a larger international crisis. Many interpret Tehran's move as an attempt to project influence and force the United States to pull back on its regional influence. The task facing the international powers is to try to defuse an already volatile situation while working to guarantee the security of the vital maritime route, which is essential to worldwide commerce.
Pro-Iran narrative
Tehran is trying to maintain its power in the area by supporting the Houthis and moving a warship to the Red Sea, where it hopes to gain control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. It seems unlikely that the move would lead to further escalation between the US and Iran, as Tehran has no interest in a direct conflict with the US in the Red Sea. Rather, Iran will utilize the crisis to demonstrate to the rest of the world that it is a constructive and major regional power — especially given the current conflict in Gaza.
