[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 94 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 94

   Encouraging the negotiation of an ``Incidents at Sea Agreement'' 
    between the United States of America and the Government of Iran.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 2009

   Mr. Conyers (for himself and Mr. Davis of Kentucky) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                            Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Encouraging the negotiation of an ``Incidents at Sea Agreement'' 
    between the United States of America and the Government of Iran.

Whereas, on January 6, 2008, five Iranian patrol boats manned by members of the 
        Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps interacted with three United States 
        Navy ships in international waters in the Strait of Hormuz;
Whereas Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, Commander of United States Naval Forces 
        Central Command, called the behavior of the Iranian vessels 
        ``unnecessary, without due regard for the safety of navigation, and 
        unduly provocative'';
Whereas the interaction between the vessels nearly resulted in armed conflict 
        between the United States and Iran;
Whereas, on January 11, 2008, Admiral William J. Fallon, former commander of 
        United States forces in the Middle East and South Asia, told reporters 
        that ``This kind of behavior, if it happens in the future, is the kind 
        of event that could precipitate a mistake.'';
Whereas there exists little protocol or standardization in the communications 
        between the United States Navy and the Iranian Navy and Revolutionary 
        Guard Corps;
Whereas the Strait of Hormuz has been characterized as a ``global strategic 
        chokepoint'' through which nearly two-fifths of the world's oil is 
        shipped;
Whereas a clash in the Strait of Hormuz would have catastrophic consequences for 
        the world economy, especially the price of oil;
Whereas the naval buildup in the region, and differences between the United 
        States and Iran, Hamas, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Lebanon 
        and Hezbollah, and Iran's nuclear program, all make for an environment 
        that is highly charged, fragile and very susceptible to destructive 
        developments;
Whereas Department of Defense officials have said they want to prevent future 
        naval interactions in the region from escalating into a confrontation 
        due to nonexistent or ineffective communication;
Whereas at the height of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union 
        entered into an Agreement on the prevention of incidents on and over the 
        high seas (entered into force with respect to the United States on May 
        25, 1972; 23 UST 1063; known as the ``Incidents at Sea Agreement''), 
        designed to reduce the likelihood of a misunderstanding and 
        miscommunication between United States and Soviet naval forces;
Whereas, on January 29, 2008, Retired Admiral James Lyons, who previously served 
        as commander of the Pacific Fleet and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, 
        suggested in an opinion piece in the Washington Times that the set of 
        rules and regulations incorporated in the Incidents at Sea Agreement 
        could be applied as modified for naval operations in the Persian Gulf;
Whereas such an Incidents at Sea Agreement between the United States and Iran 
        could establish necessary protocol to avoid confrontation between the 
        two nations;
Whereas such protocols could include not interfering in the formations of the 
        other party, avoiding maneuvers in areas of heavy sea traffic, requiring 
        surveillance ships to maintain a safe distance so as to avoid 
        embarrassing or endangering the ships under surveillance, using accepted 
        international signals when ships maneuver near one another, not 
        simulating attacks at, launching objects toward or illuminating the 
        bridges of the other party's ships, informing vessels when submarines 
        are exercising near them, requiring aircraft commanders to use caution 
        and prudence in approaching aircraft and ships of the other party, and 
        not permitting simulated attacks against aircraft or ships, performing 
        aerobatics over ships, or dropping hazardous objects near them;
Whereas the absence of diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran 
        need not be an obstacle to direct, military to military talks on 
        procedural issues involving the safety of naval personnel and assets; 
        and
Whereas entering into such an Incidents at Sea Agreement could help protect 
        American lives and treasure: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the 
United States to promote the negotiation of an ``Incidents At Sea 
Agreement'' between the United States of America and the Government of 
Iran.
                                 <all>