Farsi Island

Jazireh-ye Farsi Lighthouse
Iran
Location Farsi Island
Iran
Coordinates 27°59′30″N 50°10′18″E / 27.99167°N 50.17167°E / 27.99167; 50.17167
Foundation concrete basement
Construction metal skeletal tower
Tower shape square pyramidal tower
Markings / pattern white and black horizontal band tower
Height 23 metres (75 ft)
Focal height 28 metres (92 ft)
Range 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi)
Characteristic Fl W 15s.
Admiralty number D7455
NGA number 29364[1] [2]

Farsi Island (Persian: جزیره فارسی‎‎ jazīreye fârsī) is a tiny, barren Iranian island in the Persian Gulf. There is an IRGC Navy base on this island. The island has an area of about 0.25 km2 (0.10 sq mi) and is restricted from the public. The center of Farsi Island is located at latitude 27° 59' 36" N and longitude 50° 10' 22" E. Its maximum elevation is 4 metres (13 ft). The word Farsi means "Persian".

In the late 1980s, during the "Tanker War" phase of the Iran-Iraq war, the IRGC used speedboats to launch attacks from Farsi Island on vessels of Iraq and its allies, including Kuwait.[3] The United States entered the Persian gulf to protect Kuwaiti oil shipments. Iran planted naval mines near Farsi Island on the route of the very first convoy, consisted of US navy vessels escorting the Kuwaiti oil tanker Bridgeton, which hit one of the mines.

On January 12, 2016, Iranian Revolutionary Guards forces stationed at the island apprehended two small vessels and their 10 U.S. Navy sailors after the latter entered Iranian waters.[4] The incident prompted talks between the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the U.S. State Department regarding their release.[5] All 10 sailors and their vessels were released unharmed the following morning.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Iran The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 3 October 2016
  2. ↑ NGA List of Lights – Pub.112 Retrieved 3 October 2016
  3. ↑ "Iranian boat attack tanker in Gulf" (page A22). Washington Post. July 26, 1988.
  4. ↑ Schmidt, Michael S.; Cooper, Helene (15 January 2016). "Defense Secretary Says U.S. Sailors Made Navigational Error Into Iranian Waters". The New York Times.
  5. ↑ "Iran-US Navy Dispute Live Updates: Iranian Military Holds 10 American Sailors On Iran's Farsi Island". ibtimes.com. 12 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "US thanks Iran for swift release of 10 Navy sailors". British Broadcasting Corporation. 13 January 2016.

External links

Coordinates: 27°59′N 50°10′E / 27.99°N 50.17°E / 27.99; 50.17

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