A small Iranian boat under the shadow of an American ship carrying the US High Command

ABOARD THE USS ESSEX, Persian Gulf – Shortly after the US commander-in-chief in the Middle East embarked aboard the USS Essex in the Persian Gulf, he was able to see an Iranian speedboat cross the river. front of the ship, while another side shadow.

US General Joseph Votel, head of the US Central Command, said that he was not surprised that the body of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards took note of the storming vessel. amphibious during his patrol Friday in the southern Gulf. The small boats, which were armed, were within 300 meters of Essex, and their radio conversation was about what an American plane was doing aboard the ship.

During a demonstration for Votel, one of the US Marine Corps' F-35 stealth fighter jets took a tour around Essex, then hovered over the bridge for a moment before to land vertically.

"I really appreciate that you have arranged the meeting of the Iranians," Votel joked to members of the ship's crew. He then told the journalists who accompanied him aboard the ship that the IRGC was trying to monitor what the United States was doing in the area and gather as much information as possible about it.

"It should not be surprising that we have an Iranian interest today around perhaps one of the most important ships we have in the Arabian Gulf at present," he said. declared Votel.

It is unlikely that the guards of Iran's Islamic Revolution knew that Votel was on board the ship. But they may have already seen his two V-22 Osprey helicopters land as well as the demonstration of the F-35 by a marine pilot assigned to the ship's 13th shipping unit.

CGR boats regularly buzz around US vessels in the area, take photos and collect information. Previously, they had also launched drones to fly over and observe American ships, which raised concerns about interfering with air operations.

The F-35B high-tech Highen Light on Essex was the first of this new aircraft to conduct air strikes in combat, dropping bombs on Taliban targets in Afghanistan in September.

There are several versions of the F-35 for the air force, the navy and the navy. The supersonic marine version, intended to replace the AV-8B Harrier, can take off for a short distance and land vertically, like a helicopter.

Navy Captain Jerry Olin, Commodore of the Amphibious Squadron 1, which includes Essex and two other ships with her in the Gulf, said the Iranian boats were acting safely and professionally. It would have been more dangerous if they were driving aboard the ship or if they were acting in a more unpredictable manner that could cause a collision, he said.

Olin added that small boats often come "relatively close" and take pictures of the ships. In return, he said, his crew used loudspeakers to communicate with the boats and deter them from becoming a danger.

Hundreds of Iranian fast boats operate in the area, he said. In the past, boats threatened and harassed ships, especially when they were trying to cross the narrow strait of Hormuz.

This article was written by Lolita C. Baldor of the Associated Press and was legally licensed by the NewsCred Publishers Network. Please send any licensing questions to [email protected].

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