IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 709 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Iran, by failing 
to adhere to international maritime law, ignoring United Nations resolu-
tions, and conducting military operations in a manner that raises tensions 
within the Arabian Gulf, has undermined stability in the Arabian Gulf, 
raised the danger of inadvertent escalation, and increased the risk to 
members of the United States Armed Forces overseas. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 28, 2016 
Mr. FORBES submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
Iran, by failing to adhere to international maritime law, 
ignoring United Nations resolutions, and conducting mili-
tary operations in a manner that raises tensions within 
the Arabian Gulf, has undermined stability in the Ara-
bian Gulf, raised the danger of inadvertent escalation, 
and increased the risk to members of the United States 
Armed Forces overseas. 
Whereas Iranian military and paramilitary vessels have re-
peatedly behaved in a dangerous and unprofessional man-
ner in close proximity to naval vessels and commercial 
shipping operating in internationally recognized maritime 
traffic lanes; 
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•HRES 709 IH 
Whereas Iranian forces did conduct live firing exercises with-
in 1500 yards of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Harry S. 
Truman in December 2015; 
Whereas Iranian military aircraft flew over the Harry S. Tru-
man and the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in 
January 2016; 
Whereas, on January 12, 2016, Iranian forces illegally 
boarded and detained at gunpoint the crews of two U.S. 
Navy riverine combat boats that were in distress; 
Whereas Iranian actions on January 12 violated international 
maritime law and practice regarding the right of innocent 
passage and the sovereign immunity of naval vessels; and 
Whereas United States Armed Forces in the Arabian Gulf 
have continuously acted in accordance with international 
law and maritime practice, to include assisting Iranian 
mariners in distress: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) believes that the actions of Iranian military 
and paramilitary forces in the Arabian Gulf under-
mined stability in the Arabian Gulf, raised the dan-
ger of inadvertent escalation and increased the risk 
to members of the United States Armed Forces 
overseas; 
(2) calls on the military and paramilitary forces 
of Iran to act in accordance with international law 
and standards for conduct at sea; 
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•HRES 709 IH 
(3) urges the Administration to strongly re-
spond to past and future instances of dangerous and 
unprofessional behavior by Iranian forces; and 
(4) pledges to consider the behavior of Iranian 
military and paramilitary forces, along with other 
relevant considerations, when considering or debat-
ing any legislation that pertains to Iran, including 
sanctions and arms control agreements. 
Æ 
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