Nine U.S. warships in Gulf for show of force

By Mohammed Abbas

ABOARD USS JOHN C. STENNIS (Reuters) - A large flotilla of U.S. warships sailed through the narrowest point in the Gulf in broad daylight on Wednesday to hold drills off Iran's coast in a major show of force that unnerved oil markets.

U.S. Navy officials said Iran was not notified of plans to sail nine ships, including two aircraft carriers, through the Straits of Hormuz, a narrow channel in international waters off Iran's coast and a major artery for global oil shipments.

The maneuver raises pressure on the Islamic Republic, coinciding with the findings of the U.N. atomic watchdog that Iran had ignored Security Council demands and expanded uranium enrichment, which could lead to tougher sanctions.

Oil climbed towards $70 as the U.S. ships sailed into the straits, through which 40 percent of globally traded oil passes.

Rear Admiral Kevin Quinn, who is leading the group, said the ships would conduct exercises as part of a long-planned effort to reassure regional allies of U.S. commitment to Gulf security.

"There's always the threat of any state or non-state actor that might decide to close one of the international straits, and the biggest one is the Straits of Hormuz," he told reporters on board the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier.

Tension over Tehran's nuclear ambitions has raised regional fears of a military confrontation. The U.S. naval presence in the Gulf is the largest since the 2003 Iraq war.

Highlighting the dangers of accidental escalation, a Navy official said the Stennis had received nine enquiries from nearby countries, two from Oman and seven from Iran, including one from an Iranian vessel that sailed close by. An Iranian aircraft had also flown nearby, but was part of normal traffic.

Iran's Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said Tehran would resist any threat and give a "powerful answer" to enemies.

Most U.S. ships pass through the straits at night so as not to attract attention, and rarely move in such large numbers.

Navy officials said the decision to send a second aircraft carrier was made at the last minute, without giving a reason.

The group of ships, carrying about 17,000 personnel and 140 aircraft scheduled to participate in the exercises that will take place over the next few weeks, crossed at roughly 0355 GMT.

SHOW OF FORCE

The maneuver comes less than two weeks after U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking aboard the Stennis during a tour of the Gulf, said Washington would stand with others to prevent Iran gaining nuclear weapons and "dominating the region".

The United States accuses Iran of trying to produce nuclear weapons, and has sought tougher U.N. sanctions against Iran. Iran says its nuclear ambitions are for energy purposes only.