United States: A White House spokesperson has stated that the Pentagon will strengthen its “defensive stance” in the Gulf after accusing Tehran of escalating attacks on commercial shipping in the important Middle Eastern region. According to Mr. John Kirby, who spoke at a press conference, Iran has interfered with the navigation rights of 15 commercial vessels flying international flags and has harassed or attacked them over the last two years.
“Today, the Department of Defense will be making a series of moves to bolster our defensive posture in the Arabian Gulf,” the spokesman told reporters.
“We have seen repeated Iranian threats, armed seizures, and attacks against commercial shippers who are exercising their navigational rights and freedoms in international waterways,” Mr. Kirby added.
Iran seized two international oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, including one headed to the US, in late April and early May 2023.
The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet recently stated that it was pushing to deter threats and “working with regional allies and partners to increase the rotation of ships and aircraft patrolling in and around the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s recent unlawful merchant vessel seizures”.
It accused Iran of violating international law. “Iran’s unwarranted, irresponsible, and unlawful seizure and harassment of merchant vessels must stop,” Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, who heads the Bahrain-based US fleet, noted in a statement.
The recent spike in Iran-US tensions comes amid stalled diplomacy between the two countries.
The administration of US President Joe Biden has continued to impose and enforce a strict sanctions regime against Iran and its oil and petrochemical industries.
US-Iranian relations have been further complicated by a crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran and Washington’s allegations that Tehran supplied Russia with drones that Moscow used against Ukraine.
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