US Nuclear Sub forced to leave Persian Gulf

The damaged US nuclear submarine ‘Newport News’ which polluted the Persian Gulf waters with radioactive and chemical materials after it collided with a Japanese super tanker in the Straits of Hormuz was forced to leave the Persian Gulf following strong protests by Iranian officials.

Newport News, which accompanied USS Eisenhower, sustained heavy damages after it collided with the Japanese super tanker Mogamigava east of the Hormuz Straits at 22:15 hours local time (18:45 GMT) on January 8, 2007, as a result of which its captain Mathew Vinegar was dismissed.

Following the collision and when the submarine was transferred to a port in Bahrain to undergo repair works, chemical and radioactive materials started leaking into the Persian Gulf waters.

Subsequently, the commander of Iran’s naval force voiced his deep concern over the pollution of the Persian Gulf region and its negative impacts on the environment, following which the Iranian parliament’s Environment Commission pursued the case through correspondence and exchange of views with different world authorities and bodies.

As per the objections made in this regard coupled with the United States’ fear from the consequences and aftermaths of the case, the nuclear submarine was transferred from the Persian Gulf for overhaul.


Comment on Global Research Articles on our Facebook page

Become a Member of Global Research


Articles by: Global Research

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are of sole responsibility of the author(s). The Centre for Research on Globalization will not be responsible for any inaccurate or incorrect statement in this article. The Centre of Research on Globalization grants permission to cross-post Global Research articles on community internet sites as long the source and copyright are acknowledged together with a hyperlink to the original Global Research article. For publication of Global Research articles in print or other forms including commercial internet sites, contact: [email protected]

www.globalresearch.ca contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available to our readers under the provisions of "fair use" in an effort to advance a better understanding of political, economic and social issues. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes other than "fair use" you must request permission from the copyright owner.

For media inquiries: [email protected]