I see a little of both sides. I’ve also been buzzed by Iranians in the straits over there back in the mid 2000’s. Here is an Iranian bird right over us that kept circling while a gunboat came right alongside for a while in 2007. This definitely isn’t new.
I was hesitant to agree with the USS Cole analogy. In that case it was a deliberate approach and detonate. The bright orange PFDs don’t scream terrorist. These guys are circling, pointing, watching, and generally being obnoxious. But seeing the types of boats they are using (ie: not clearly identified with insignia/markings) its maybe not so far-fetched on first approach. I’d like to assume the navy boys are prepared to stop any continued approach into their perimeter.
So if they are buzzing ships and generally harassing just shoot them? I don’t think so. But after all these years of doing this, which is clearly dangerous and provocative, is it unreasonable to take a more firm and deliberate public stance by the President/USN? I don’t think that is unreasonable at all. As for timing, I would agree that the optics agree with @DeckApe. Of course the “Why Now” questions is a two-way street. Why does Iran feel that a global pandemic is a great time to continue poking the bear?