Time for Obama to make another videotape reaching out to the mullahs. “Iran navy plane was filming US carrier” from AFP, May 4 (thanks to all who sent this in):
TEHRAN – An Iranian navy plane that came close to a US aircraft carrier in the Gulf was filming the vessel, the Fars news agency quoted Iran’s naval chief as saying on Tuesday.
“The F27 plane of the navy flew above this aircraft carrier and took a thorough film. Despite the carrier’s objection we insist that this is our right,” the agency quoted Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayari as saying.
On April 21, the Iranian aircraft came as close as 1,000 yards (915 metres) to the USS Eisenhower in the international waters south of Iran, a senior US military officer said, adding that nothing had come of the incident.
The US commander, who requested anonymity, said the aircraft had stayed at that distance for about 20 minutes, but pointed out that “all interaction with the aircraft was routine and correct.”
The incident happened on the eve of war games conducted by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz oil route.
The American officer said US Navy ships operating in the Gulf region “routinely have Iranian maritime patrol aircraft fly by their positions — almost on a daily basis.”
Iran’s air force chief said at the time that the Islamic Republic was entitled to conducting routine surveillance flights and “no one can object to this.”…
No one will, whether or not they can.