Volatile Relations

The Islamic Republic of Iran is nothing if not a belligerent nation.  Paradoxically, it is not the Iranian public that is imbued with this penchant for aggression, but rather its religious hierarchy, the ayatollahs that control the country, and its political elite.  Iran forthrightly confronts all its critics, both those in the Middle East and those in the West, particularly the United States, with its God-given right to obtain nuclear weapons, should it wish to.

Its insistence that it has no interest whatever in acquiring a nuclear arsenal, while at the same time very publicly threatening to annihilate the State of Israel leads the perception that nuclear warheads are indeed what the Republic is aiming to achieve.  The 20% enriched uranium that the Republic has successfully upgraded to is not needed for what it claims are peaceful purposes; energy use and medical isotopes.

And, once having achieved that 20% enrichment milestone, it will not be all that difficult for their nuclear scientists to continue upgrading uranium enrichment to the point where nuclear devices will be achievable.  Sanctions and threats of increased sanctions have appeared to damage the country's economy.  Iranians have had to resign themselves to living in straitened circumstances as a result.

The penalties for shipping Iranian oil, the cut-backs in the purchase of Iranian crude, have had their impact, and the European Union's stricter interpretation of the sanctions, cutting back on their imports, will only bring further pain to the Iranian economy.  President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has threatened that U.S. bases in the region will be hit, as will Israel, should hostilities lead to potential bombing of nuclear sites in the country.

The war games that Iran's military has been indulging in has used mock-up targets reflecting those that may be hit in Israel and the U.S. bases in the Middle East, according to the latest show of force and boasts that Iran will more than balance any aggression that comes its way with force of its own.

The threat of closure of the Strait of Hormuz has seen American warships and carriers tellingly brought to the Gulf.  The embargo on Iranian oil exports has not yet succeeded in persuading Tehran to agree to any measure of concessions to demands by the IAEA and the UN.  Iranian anti-ship missiles and high-speed watercraft operated by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps continue the threats.

Canada's HMCS Regina is now sailing to the Persian Gulf to replace HMCS Charlottetown, joining the U.S. naval forces there.  Determined, for one thing, to ensure that the Iranian military doesn't make that threatened attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz and halt international shipping through that important route of international waters.

The frigate's presence in the area is part of the government's plan to establish a Canadian semi-permanent naval presence in the area, considered to be among the most dangerous waters in the world.  The Regina has a small air detachment with Sea King helicopters, and a crew of 250.  Joining the international community in its concern over conflict in the area.

Which hasn't stopped Iranian surveillance aircraft from buzzing warships transiting from the Indian Ocean into the Gulf.  Canada is as committed to the protection of international waters, and to ensure that Iran's plans to acquire nuclear weapons do not materialize, as the United States is.  And, additionally committed to ensure that Israel's existence is not imperilled.