Committee member urges stronger U.S. response to alleged IRGC attacks in Strait of Hormuz

A committee member urged a stronger U.S. response to what they described as a pattern of harassment and attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the incidents represent an "imminent" threat.

The member listed a series of alleged events, saying, "Captured sailors and 2 boats, IRGC," and alleging that four IRGC patrol boats attacked the USS Neechi. They also said the USNS Invincible was "forced to change course" after IRGC fast-attack craft tried to run into it, and that an IRGC vessel attacked the USS Thunderbolt. The member added that an Iranian drone operated in the area and that the IRGC seized the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Novi.

"I can list off dozens of these," the committee member said, arguing the incidents are not isolated. They characterized activity in the Straits of Hormuz as "imminent," saying the pattern has continued year after year.

The member criticized colleagues "across the aisle," saying some lawmakers deny or minimize the attacks. They framed the choice before the United States as whether to respond forcefully: "It is a choice whether we hit back. Strong people choose to hit back. Strong countries choose to hit back. Weak people, weak countries, they don't." The committee member used those remarks to press for a more assertive posture.

The remarks in the transcript were presented as allegations and assertions by the committee member; no supporting documents, formal findings, or corroborating testimony appear in the provided record, and no motion or vote is recorded in these segments. The transcript does not show a named speaker or any formal committee action tied to these statements.

Next steps were not specified in the provided segments.