Richard Morse asked why the U.S. Navy did not capture the Iranian motorboat that was photographed removing parts of an exploded mine from a Japanese tanker (“Don’t get into Iran war under false pretenses,” Star-Advertiser, June 26).

First of all, rescuing seamen under duress is the only legal action the Navy could have performed.

The tanker may have been in Iranian territory. The tanker was not American- owned or -contracted.

The Navy could have caused an international incident by illegally attacking a foreign military force without specific U.N. or congressional authorized use of military force.

The Japanese may have ordered or asked the Iranians to remove the mine from the tanker, therefore giving the Iranians legal access to the tanker.

Finally, the president was correct to hold off attacking Iranian targets for shooting down a U.S. drone because he is the commander-in-chief.

Russel Noguchi

Pearl City

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