Okay first the involvement of the US in the Iran Iraq war was essentially nil until the Iranians began harrassing neutral shipping even after that The current buddies of the Iranians - the Russians - remained the primary suppliers of military hardware to the Iraqis. US equipage consisted primaryily of a few obsolescent HAWK anti aircraft batteries.
As is also quite common for most nations with a shoreline to claim far more in the way of territiorial waters than the familiar 12 mile limit. So it is not uncommon for there to be substantial confusion and outright disagreement of where territorial waters begin and end. Had not Iran attempted to close of the Persian Gulf to world shipping the Airbus wouldn't have got shot down. Further buzzing a US Aegis class cruiser is commiting suicide.
As is also quite common for most nations with a shoreline to claim far more in the way of territiorial waters than the familiar 12 mile limit. So it is not uncommon for there to be substantial confusion and outright disagreement of where territorial waters begin and end. Had not Iran attempted to close of the Persian Gulf to world shipping the Airbus wouldn't have got shot down. Further buzzing a US Aegis class cruiser is commiting suicide.