Iran Attack on U.S. Ship Inevitable, Sasser Says

WASHINGTON —  Iran won’t be intimidated by U.S. or Soviet ships in the Persian Gulf, and it’s “just a matter of time” before an American ship is attacked, a senator who just returned from the region said today.

Responding to plans by the Reagan Administration for the Navy to escort Kuwaiti tankers flying American flags in the gulf, Sen. Jim Sasser (D-Tenn.) said on NBC-TV’s “Today” show:

“I think it’s just a matter of time until the Iranians do (attack a U.S.-flag ship). Just a few days ago, the Iranians apparently deliberately attacked a Soviet tanker flying the Soviet flag which had been chartered by the Kuwaitis.

“So the Iranians make no distinction between the superpowers and others in the Persian Gulf. And as we’ve seen in times past, the Iranians would like nothing better than to try to humiliate the United States.”

Sasser was referring to the attack a week ago today by an Iranian gunboat on the 6,459-ton Ivan Koroteyev, as reported by the Soviet press agency Tass. No crew members were hurt in the cannon, machine-gun and rocket attack, Tass said.

The Reagan Administration, weighing options to protect oil tankers against Iranian attack, may increase U.S. naval forces in the Arabian Sea or ask Britain, France and other allies to provide air cover for the gulf, U.S. officials said Tuesday.

Sasser said today he doubts that the escorting of reflagged ships will begin soon. He referred to the 91-5 Senate vote last week on a proposal by the majority and minority leaders that the Administration fully report to Congress on the risks and implications of a stepped-up U.S. presence.