500 Chapter 5
Participants: 2 United States of America/630 Iran
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute concerns Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz during
the Iran-Iraq War and began in late February 1983, with the United States making
threats following Iranian attacks on shipping and oil traffic. One-sixth of the Western
world’s oil imports pass through the strait. The United States again threatened Iran five
months later. Iran was undeterred and conducted unconventional airspace maneuvers
over American naval ships stationed in the Persian Gulf in December 1983, presum-
ably for reconnaissance in relation to US efforts to prevent Iran from closing the Strait
of Hormuz. Then, on February 19, 1984, the United States stated that it would use
force if Iran went through with its threats to close the straits. There were reports that
nine American warships were in the gulf moving toward the strait. The United States
continued to protect ships in the gulf, and Iran continued to call the military presence
an act of aggression. On May 20, Iran warned the United States against intervening in
the Iran-Iraq War, and Ayatollah Khamenei threatened a “slap far harder than the one
it got in Lebanon” if it did decide to intervene.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from February 26, 1983. End Date changed
from July 26, 1983.
MID#3625
Started in November 1985. See the narrative in the 630 Iran/690 Kuwait dyad dispute
list.
MID#2578
Dispute Number: 2578
Date(s): January 12, 1986
Participants: 630 Iran/2 United States of America
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Iranian ships searched an American ship near the Persian Gulf that was
suspected of providing material to Iraq. The search lasted less than an hour, but a
formal protest was immediately issued by the United States, which also released two
navy ships to the area.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from January 13, 1986. End Date changed from
January 14, 1986.
MID#2740
Dispute Number: 2740
Date(s): January 27, 1987 to July 3, 1988
Participants: 2 United States of America/630 Iran
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths