WASHINGTON: The US military is reportedly considering the deployment of armed personnel on commercial ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz to deter Iran from seizing and harassing civilian vessels. This unprecedented action is being considered in response to recent incidents in the region.
The move would mark a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran in the strategic waterway, through which approximately 20% of the world’s crude oil passes. The plan comes as thousands of Marines and sailors are en route to the Arabian Gulf aboard the USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall.
While US officials have not provided detailed information about the plan, they confirmed that discussions are ongoing, and no final decision has been made. The Bataan and Carter Hall were deployed in response to what the Pentagon described as Iran’s attempts to threaten the free flow of commerce in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Response to US Proposal
Iran’s mission to the United Nations has not yet responded to the US proposal. However, Iran’s chief diplomat previously conveyed to neighboring nations that the region does not need “foreigners” providing security. In a show of force, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard conducted a surprise military drill on disputed islands in the Arabian Gulf.
The renewed hostilities come amidst Iran’s increased uranium enrichment activities, which have brought it closer to weapons-grade levels after the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The US has already sent warplanes and warships to the region in response to Iran’s actions at sea and has pursued ships worldwide believed to be carrying sanctioned Iranian oil.
The deployment of armed guards on commercial ships, if implemented, would mark a significant departure from past practices during the “Tanker War” of the 1980s. It would represent a new tactic aimed at protecting civilian vessels from potential Iranian threats in the Strait of Hormuz.
