Tanker Wars -- The Brits Win One

A few days ago, the British authorities in Gibraltar seized a tanker filled with Iranian oil bound for Syria.  The seizure was made at the request of the US since the oil shipment violated a number of sanctions in place against both Iran and Syria.  The Iranians were outraged.  They called it an act of piracy.  Today, they tried to retaliate.  Iranian boats approached a British tanker carrying oil in the Persian Gulf.  It was a strange move since the tanker was accompanied by a Royal Navy destroyer.  Most likely, the Iranians thought the Brits would not dare challenge their move.  They were wrong.  The destroyer trained its guns on the Iranian ships and they were forced to flee before they were sunk.  Iran was embarrassed and Britain was triumphant.

This was just a small battle, but it shows where the Iranians stand at the moment.  They keep looking for ways to strike back at countries like the UK and the USA.  They have attacked other tankers recently; indeed, that is why the Royal Navy was there today.  The Iranians do have anti-ship missiles, but to launch one of them against a navy ship would surely lead to retaliation and likely war.  It's not a war the Iranians would win.  Thus, they go out on the attack but retreat at the first sign of real counter-force.

It's a very dangerous situation.  One miscalculation and there will be war.  The Iranians need to stop their provocative actions.  Right now, Iran doesn't look like it is picking that option.