US warns military of potential escalation of contacts with Iran

CNN:

U.S. military commanders in the Middle East were sent a message reminding American forces to maintain discipline and prudence if they encounter any Iranian military forces during potential unrest surrounding Iran's presidential election, CNN has learned.

This so far is the only acknowledged U.S. military reaction to the unfolding situation in Iran.

Two U.S. defense officials with direct knowledge of the highly classified message confirmed the details to CNN but said the issue is so sensitive that they could not divulge whose signature was on the message. It was distributed via secure communications in recent days. The officials talked with CNN on condition they not be identified.

Both underscored that the message is not an indication U.S. forces are at any higher state of alert. However, the U.S. military is extremely concerned, they said, that given unrest in Iran, any encounter between U.S. and Iranian units could inadvertently escalate.

The message is mainly directed at U.S. naval forces in the Persian Gulf that regularly encounter Iranian naval forces in those waters.

"We are watching, and ensuring disciplined restraint on the part of our naval forces," one official told CNN. The U.S. military's concern is that Iranian naval forces could engage in some activity in the Gulf waters that could be a "triggering event," that U.S. forces might been compelled to react to.

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This is a prudent move. Ahmadinejad might try to distract those protesting his election theft by provoking a conflict with the US with whom Iran as been at war for about 30 years. This is the kind of thinking usually found with senior military leaders who try to anticipate trouble in areas under their command.