This posing is normal in the Straits. The Iranians were being as aggressive and defiant as the US is while transiting the Straits of Hormuz.
Where were the US ships? All the announcements are that the ships were inbound in the Straits of Hormuz. One US transmission in the video is: "We are in international waters and we intend no harm."
That is not true. They may mistakenly claim they are in international waters, but there are no international waters in the Straits of Hormuz. The inbound channel is in Iranian territorial waters and ships in transit through the Straits do so at the pleasure of Iran or Oman (the outbound channel) and according to the rules set out in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
"I am engaged in transit passage in accordance with international law," is another one of the transmissions from the US ships.
OK, fine, except the US has never ratified the "international law" that they now want to claim privileges and protection with for navigation rights in the Straits. You can't claim protections from an international law and ignore it all on the same day.
The "international law" that gives navigation rights through the Straits of Hormuz prohibits air operations while in transit. It also prohibits surveillance and surveys while in transit. See the helos in the videos? That violates the terms of right of passage. The US Navy uses sonar and US subs do not surface while going through the Straits - all violations of the terms to right of passage.
Iran could deny all US ships right of passage tomorrow, if it wanted to, and the US would have no legal standing. The inbound channel is 100% Iran territorial waters. Iran is probably content to let these theatrics continue for its own political purposes, just as the US is.
It's theater for you. Put on some popcorn and enjoy it.
