The United States will pursue vessels from any country that may be providing “material support” to Iran in other regions of the world, said General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, at a press conference this Thursday morning (16).
“In addition to this blockade, the Armed Forces, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, such as the Pacific Area of Responsibility… will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” Caine told reporters.
“This includes clandestine fleet vessels that transport Iranian oil. As most of you know, clandestine fleet vessels are those illicit or illegal vessels that circumvent international regulations, sanctions or insurance requirements,” he added.
Caine added that 10,000 sailors, more than a dozen ships and dozens of aircraft are involved in the mission.
What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz?
Since the start of the US and Israeli war against Iran on February 28, Tehran has restricted passage for almost all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, saying navigation would only be permitted under Iranian control and upon payment of a fee.
And via marítimathrough which almost a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes.
After the failure of the negotiation attempt, with the aim of ending the war between the USA and Iran, President Donald Trump announced that American forces including the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran threatened to target warships crossing the strait and retaliate against the ports of its Gulf neighbors following the American blockade announcement.
About that, with the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Tehran suspended.
