Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — The U.S. Navy has been preparing to confront Iran in the
Gulf.

The commander of the Navy’s Fifth Fleet said his force has examined
Iran’s military capabilities. Vice Adm. Mark Fox said he was certain that
the United States could repel any Iranian naval operations in the Gulf.

“We’ve developed very precise and lethal weapons that are very
effective, and we’re prepared,” Fox said. “We’re just ready for any
contingency.”

In a briefing in the Bahraini capital of Manama on Feb. 12, Fox said the Fifth Fleet has developed a “wide range of options” against Iran. The naval commander did not elaborate, but said Washington takes Iranian military capabilities seriously.

“They have increased the number of submarines,” Fox said. “They
increased the number of fast attack craft.”

Iran has repeatedly threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz as well as attack U.S. interests in the region. Officials said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has developed a so-called swarm strategy designed to overcome large U.S. warships with small fast attack craft.

“Some of the small boats have been outfitted with a large warhead that
could be used as a suicide explosive device,” Fox said. “The Iranians have a
large mine inventory.”

The Fifth Fleet has deployed two aircraft carrier groups in the Gulf. A
third group has completed training for its mission in the region and was
expected to arrive over the next month.

“Could they [Iranians] make life extremely difficult for us?” Fox asked.
“Yes they could. If we did nothing and they were able to operate without
being inhibited, yeah they could close it [Hormuz]. But I can’t see that we
would ever be in that position.”

Officials said the U.S. Navy has been closely monitoring Shi’ite unrest
in Bahrain. On Feb. 12, Bahraini anti-riot units battled Shi’ites in a
suburb of Manama in violence expected to escalate on Feb. 14, the first
anniversary of the uprising against the Sunni kingdom. The Fifth Fleet has
deployed more than 3,000 personnel in Bahrain.

“They [Bahrain] are a long-term partner and a very important piece of
our ability to do our mission,” Fox said.

  Iran fast attack craft, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Manama, Shi’ite unrest, Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Fifth Fleet leader cites Iran moves: ‘We’re ready for any contingency’, U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet, Vice Adm. Mark Fox