PERSIAN GULF: IRANIAN NAVAL OPERATIONS - TANKER WAR

Created: 10/2/1987

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

7

Situation Report

Last month the number of ship attacksew high in the three-veer-old tanker war In the Guff, but shipping traffic has not been significantly reduced. Shipping sources say that speedboats attacked and set ablaze an Indian tanker In the southern Gulf early this

morning. Iranian gunboatsOertanapanese tanker late Wednesday, according to shipping sources, bringing the number

ol ships attacked by Iran In Septemberraq attackedhips

lest month, most of them at or near Iran's Knark Island oil terminal.

Iranian gunboatsakistani tanker yesterday, while Iraqi

C

ustrsllen shrimp boat, according to press reporting, level of ship attacks In the Guff Is iker/ to fluctuateo match their political and diplomatic requirements with their military capabilities. The higher level of Iraqi attacks that occurred after the de facto cease-fires In July and August reflects Baghdad's attempt to keep International attention on the Guff end on UN efforts lo end the war. Conversely, Tehran nope* Its retellatory

XW RELEASE

7

atlacks will persuade the Gull Arabs that the presence of foreton

ofK,rt vo,umc8 fobaNy WHI not be significantly affected bv theand most shipowners are stfll willing to transit the Gulf j

Original document.

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: