Targeting Iran! The United States intends to send troops to escort officials of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on board ships | Strait of Hormuz | United States
US government officials announced on the 3rd that the US is considering sending Marines and Navy soldiers to escort oil tankers and other commercial ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz to deter Iran.
An official who declined to be named told Agence France Presse that the escort on board will mainly be aimed at commercial ships approaching or crossing the Strait of Hormuz, but first requires the consent of the commercial ship side.
According to the Associated Press, citing informed officials, the process of implementing this idea would be quite complex. Approval is required from both the country of nationality of the merchant ship flying its flag and the registered operator of the merchant ship. The final decision has not been made yet, and the US military continues to negotiate with the Gulf Arab League, which may take some time to come up with a specific plan.
The Pentagon and the National Security Council of the White House both refused to confirm reports on the idea of escorting ships, but emphasized the importance of maintaining smooth navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, and is the only sea route for oil transportation from the Gulf region to Western Europe, the United States, and Japan, accounting for one-fifth of the world's total oil volume.
The United States has recently increased its military deployment in the Gulf to deter Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved the deployment of an additional amphibious readiness group to the Gulf in July, including a amphibious assault ship and a Marine Expeditionary Force of approximately 3000 personnel. Previously, the Pentagon dispatched multiple F-35, F-16, and A-10 attack aircraft to the Gulf, claiming to provide air cover for commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The possibility of the US military facing off with Iranian armed forces as a result of escorting on board the ship actually depends on the Iranian side, according to the US official.
In response to the recent plan by the United States to increase military deployment in the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on July 17th that continuing similar actions by the United States will create new sensitive issues in the region, leading to a worsening of regional stability and security. He emphasized that the United States has never played a peaceful or constructive role in regional security and other issues.
The United States and its allies have repeatedly accused Iran of hijacking foreign merchant ships or harassing crew members in the Strait of Hormuz in the past two years, claiming that Iran uses the seizure of ships as a bargaining chip. Iran has repeatedly denied this claim, stating that it will be seized in accordance with the law after accidents such as collisions between foreign merchant ships and Iranian vessels, or after the discharge of pollutants. The Iranian military once accused the West of using "Iranian hijacking" reports to engage in "psychological warfare" and create public opinion for "adventurist" behavior.
The United States has long imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, with a focus on Iranian oil exports, and has repeatedly joined forces with allies to seize or even confiscate Iranian oil tankers.