IRAN: COMMANDER SAYS US NAVY'S 'IRRESPONSIBLE' MOVEMENTS IN GULF COULD HAVE LED TO 'DISASTER'

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06587139
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: March 23, 2017
• Case Number: F-2016-02058
• Publication Date: January 13, 2016

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PAAUZYUW RUEIFBS1630 0131707�UUUU--RUMICEA.
131707Z JAN 16
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WARNING: TOPIC: URGENT, INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL, MILITARY
SERIAL:IML2016011351214466
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COUNTRY: IRAN, UNITED STATES
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SUBJ: (U) IRAN: COMMANDER SAYS US NAVY'S
in Gulf Could Have Led to 'Disaster'
IRRESPONSIBLE' MOVEMENTS
SOURCE: Tehran Vision of the Islamic Republic of
Iran Network 1 TV in
Persian 1030 GMT 13 Jan 16 (U)
TEXT:
[TELEVISION]
[OSC Summary]
(U) This product may contain copyrighted material; authorized use is
for national security purposes of the United States Government only.
Any reproduction, dissemination, or use is subject to the OSC usage
policy and the original copyright.
Tehran Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 1 TV in
Persian
at 1030 GMT on 13 January broadcast a live interview with IRGC Navy
Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi following the arrest and
subsequent
release of 10 US sailors.
Fadavi criticized the American Navy's initial reaction to the arrest
of 10 US sailors in the Persian Gulf and said that the American
Navy's "unprofessional and irresponsible movements could have led to
disaster for the American Navy."
Asked to provide an update on the incident, Fadavi said: "As you
mentioned, a few minutes ago the armed US sailors who had been
arrested yesterday following their illegal entry into the Farsi
Island waters have been released. Following the investigations,
which
were carried out last night, it became clear that the Americans did
not enter the Iranian waters based on a pre-determined plan with the
aim of carrying out illegal activities, including spying activities
and the like. They mistakenly entered the Iranian territories due to
a technical fault in some of their systems. They were seized at
about
1600 [local time], showing almost no resistance and were transferred
to Farsi Island.
Investigations were made last night and today, American politicians
made some assurances and [Iranian] politicians made the final
decision in Tehran and informed us about their decision. We followed
the orders and it was made apparent that, as I said in my interview
earlier this morning, their entry into Farsi Island's territorial
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waters -- about three miles away from Farsi Island -- was due to a
mistake and not a pre-planned arrangement and therefore they were
released within a short time.
Asked about the exact location where the sailors were arrested and
the international regulations regarding territorial waters of
countries and small islands, Fadavi said: "As I said they were
arrested three miles away from Farsi Island. The accepted distance
determining the territorial waters of each country is about 12
miles.
Oil, commercial, and even military vessels can sail in other
countries' territorial waters after following certain procedures
one of which is the coastal country's assurance that the passage of
military vessels is harmless. We have announced to the Americans
years ago that the passage of American ships in Iranian territorial
waters and their presence in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz
is
not considered harmless. Based on international regulations, the
coastal country should determine whether it considers passage of
vessels as harmless. This means that we need to decide whether the
trespassing or presence of the Americans is harmless or not.
According to international law, in particular the 1982 convention,
these terms are clearly stated. Some countries have officially
accepted it and some have not officially accepted it but practically
abide by it. This convention is accepted by most countries.
The Navy force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC], which
for many years has had the responsibility to control the whole of
the
Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf area has been safeguarding the
sovereignty of the Islamic Republic with full authority and the
Americans know it.
Last night following our authoritative actions for about 40 minutes,
some of the American destroyers, the Truman aircraft carrier, showed
certain non-professional and irresponsible behavior. This is while
we, with our various tools, including our coast-to-sea missiles,
missile launching speed vessels, and all other capabilities at the
disposal of the IRGC, were on high alert and fully prepared [to take
action]. Based on the warnings broadcast through international
systems, we stopped the [American ships'] next movements and
prevented their irresponsible moves and it was proved to them that
the IRGC's Navy has the first and last word. If the Americans
continued their irresponsible and unprofessional moves, it could
have
resulted in such a disaster that would have been a first in American
history. The Truman aircraft carrier, various warships, and the
Charles de Gaulle were all within the range of our fire, and this
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would have resulted in them being instantly destroyed.
Our insight and complete control over the situation prevented any
incident. This is an issue that has been apparent for years. Very
dangerous incidents can happen because of the harmful presence of
the
Americans in our region. A dangerous incident in the Persian Gulf
will result in insecurity in the whole world. This is a very
important issue and other governments and countries, as well as our
dear nation, must be aware that the IRGC is very capable and
determined to safeguard the Islamic Revolution and its
achievements."
Asked what the first reaction of the arrested American sailors were,
Fadavi said: "Because our behavior was based on the Islamic
teachings, they were not concerned. Also, they explicitly stressed
that they were not aware that they had entered our territorial
waters
or that they were near Farsi Island. Our inspections and
investigations into the vessels' navigation systems showed that what
they claimed was correct." "In the end, they and the American
politicians accepted that they had made a mistake and promised to
try
to prevent such incidents in the future. They apologized and our
officials decided that the sailors should be released a few minutes
ago. Our vessels took them back to the American ship."
Fadavi was then asked about the interrogation of the American
sailors
and what they said during the interrogations, he said: "One issue
that is surprising is that the distance between Kuwait and Bahrain
is
quite long. And they claimed that they were going from Kuwait to
Bahrain. Apparently, there was no proper coordination between the
vessels and the Truman aircraft carrier, which was present in that
area. They were sailing this long distance and in principle they
should not have used those vessels. Their systems had broken down
and
their communications were disrupted and it was clear after our
investigations that this claim was true. They were armed and young
and one of them was female and our treatment of that lady had to be
specifically respectful."
Asked if they were carrying GPS devices, and why their navigation
systems were not working, Fadavi said: "Yes, they did have all the
navigation systems including GPS, but it seems that there was a
problem with their systems, which resulted in this mistake."
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Asked about the reason why the American vessels showed "unusual
actions" at the beginning and if they were trying to free the
arrested sailors, Fadavi said: "No, American forces -- especially
those linked with the American Navy, which has experience of being
present in the Persian Gulf in the past years -- are certain that in
the Persian Gulf area and the Strait of Hormuz, America will never
be
the winner of any battle and they are aware that any battle in that
region will result in their ships being destroyed and sunk. But in
those first 40 minutes, it was clear that due to the psychological
pressures they were under, they did not carry out their duties as
one
expects from a professional and responsible Navy force. It seems
that
they have or will be reprimanded for creating such a dangerous
situation in a sensitive area like the Persian Gulf. The security of
the Persian Gulf has an international effect. Any problems in the
Persian Gulf will create problems for the whole world. In the
history
of the Islamic Revolution, the Americans have proved that their
presence in the Persian Gulf will create insecurities."
Asked about the message of the IRGC in this incident, Fadavi
explained about the capabilities of the IRGC in maintaining security
in the region and called for the withdrawal of the American vessels
from the Persian Gulf. He said: "Not only does the presence of
American ships not bring security to the region but it compromises
it."
[Description of Source: Tehran Vision of the Islamic Republic of
Iran
Network 1 TV in Persian -- State-run television]
(U) This product may contain copyrighted material; authorized use is
for national security purposes of the United States Government only.
Any reproduction, dissemination, or use is subject to the OSC usage
policy and the original copyright.
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