A dry run for something that would instantly be tracked back to the source and would create the perfect reason to annihilate the Persian nuisance?
Expert my eye.
Too many chicken little’s running around these days.
The response from Party Secretary to such an attack would be a strongly worded letter, with a finger wag. More likely, a call for the American people to do some introspective navel gazing to consider how this was all America’s fault. FUBO!
Back during another era, such a ship in international waters but close enough would be shadowed by a US Navy destroyer, occasionally painting the target. Not to the point like the Soviet Navy would do the “bump and grind” in the Mediterranean, but close enough. Add the hourly buzzing by patrol aircraft. But this is a new era.
Do you think they really care if they die?
Exactly what many in the Persian government want - worldwide cataclysm, thus summoning the Twelfth Imam out from whatever well he's napping in, and Islam ruling the world.