Foreign Ministry spokesman said Iraq would never intentionally attack any target in the Gulf unless it was Iranian, and laid the blame on Iran. Washington used the incident to pressure Iran, which it later blamed for the whole situation. President Ronald Reagan said "We've never considered them [Iraq's military] hostile at all", and "the villain in the piece is Iran". The Joint Chiefs of Staff investigation into the incident recommended that Iraq be held accountable, a finding the government of Iraq eventually complied with. Captain Brindel was relieved of duty and retired as a commander for not defending his ship and tactical action officer Lieutenant Basil E. Moncrief resigned. Claims On 21 June 2011, an agreement was reached between the governments of the United States and Iraq regarding claims of United States citizens against the regime of Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi government established a fund of $400 million to compensate prisoners of war and hostages in the Persian Gulf War, and those killed or injured in the 1987 attack on Stark. The United States Department of State was to establish a mechanism to process applications for compensation. Memorials On 22 May 1987, a eulogy was given by president Ronald Reagan at Mayport Naval Station, Jacksonville, Florida. A ceremony is held at Mayport Naval Station on 17 May each year to remember the 37 men who died in the incident. The ceremony in 2012 was the 25th anniversary of the attack. See also USS Vincennes incident USS Panay incident USS Liberty incident USS Pueblo incident Gulf of Tonkin incident Battle of Đồng Hới References Sources Jeffrey L, Levinson, Randy L. Edwards, "Missile Inbound", Annapolis: Naval Institute Press (1997), . Further reading Formal Investigation into the Circumstances Surrounding the Attack of the USS Stark in 1987, and further endorsememts. Airstrikes Naval battles of the Iran–Iraq War involving the United States Naval battles involving Iraq Conflicts in 1987 Stark Iraq–United States military relations Combat incidents 1987 in Iraq 1987 in the United States International maritime incidents Stark Cold War military history of the United States May 1987 events in Asia