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Associated Press

The US military is considering putting armed personnel on commercial ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, in what would be an unheard of action aimed at stopping Iran from seizing and harassing civilian vessels, five American officials said on Thursday.
Since 2019, Iran has seized a series of ships in the strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, as part of its efforts to pressure the West over negotiations regarding its collapsed nuclear deal with world powers.
Putting US troops on commercial ships could further deter Iran from seizing vessels – or escalate tensions further.
The contemplated move also would represent an extraordinary commitment in the Middle East by US forces as the Pentagon tries to focus on Russia and China.
America didn’t even take the step during the so-called “Tanker War”, which culminated with the US Navy and Iran fighting a one-day naval battle in 1988 that was the Navy’s largest since World War II.
While officials offered few details of the plan, it comes as thousands of Marines and sailors on both the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and the USS Carter Hall, a landing ship, are on their way to the Persian Gulf.

Those Marines and sailors could provide the backbone for any armed guard mission in the strait, through which 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil passes.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the US proposal.
Five US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the proposal, acknowledged its broad details.
The officials stressed no final decision had been made and that discussions continue between US military officials and America’s Gulf Arab allies in the region.
Sanctions-hit Iran looks to neighbours and friends to boost tourism
Officials said the Marines and Navy sailors would provide the security only at the request of the ships involved.
One official described the process as complex, saying any deployment likely also would require approval of the country under which the ship is flagged and the country under which the owner is registered. So far, that has yet to happen and it might not for some time, the official said.
Earlier on Thursday, Vice-Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of the Navy’s Middle-East-based 5th Fleet, met the head of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The six-nation bloc includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
While a statement from the GCC about the meeting did not hint at the proposal, it did say that Cooper and officials discussed “strengthening GCC-US cooperation and working with international and regional partners”.

The Bataan and Carter Hall left Norfolk, Virginia, on July 10 on a mission the Pentagon described as being “in response to recent attempts by Iran to threaten the free flow of commerce in the Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding waters”.
The Bataan passed through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea last week on its way to the Middle East.
Already, the US has sent A-10 Thunderbolt II warplanes, F-16 and F-35 fighters, as well as the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, to the region over Iran’s actions at sea.
The deployment has captured Iran’s attention, with its chief diplomat telling neighbouring nations that the region doesn’t need “foreigners” providing security.
US-Iran talks over a mini nuclear deal are motivated by mutual convenience
On Wednesday, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched a surprise military drill on disputed islands in the Persian Gulf, with swarms of small fast boats, paratroopers and missile units taking part.
The renewed hostilities come as Iran now enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels after the collapse of its 2015 nuclear deal.
International inspectors also believe it has enough enriched uranium for “several” nuclear bombs if it chose to build them.
Iran maintains its programme is for peaceful purposes, and US intelligence agencies assess Tehran is not pursuing an atomic bomb.
The US also has pursued ships across the world believed to be carrying sanctioned Iranian oil. Oil industry worries over another seizure by Iran is likely to have left a ship allegedly carrying Iranian oil stranded off Texas as no company has yet to unload it.


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Middle East

US may put armed troops on commercial ships to stop Iran seizures in Strait of Hormuz

Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan travels through Atlantic Ocean in July, on its mission to the Middle East. Photo: US Navy via AP

Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats take part in a drill in the Persian Gulf, in a photo released on Wednesday. Photo: Sepahnews via AP

A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker near the Strait of Hormuz in July. Photo: US Air Force via AP

US, UK navies scramble to help ship ‘harassed’ by fast-attack craft from Iran

Three Iranian Revolutionary Guard fast-attack vessels near a commercial ship in this still image taken from surveillance video from a US Navy Boeing P-8 Poseidon. photo: US Navy via AP

The British frigate HMS Lancaster sails in the Strait of Hormuz last month as Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels follow behind it. Photo: AP

Iran unveils Conqueror ‘hypersonic missile’, amid tensions with US

Iran’s new hypersonic ballistic missile called “Fattah”, or “Conquerer”, is seen in Tehran on Tuesday. Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during the unveiling ceremony of the new ballistic missile in Tehran on Tuesday. Photo: IRGC/WANA via Reuters

US sanctions Chinese and Iranian targets over Tehran’s missile and military programmes

The Iranian flag flutters in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria on Monday. Photo: Reuters

News

World

The unprecedented move would represent an extraordinary commitment in the Middle East by US forces as the Pentagon tries to focus on Russia and China
Since 2019, Iran has seized a series of ships in the strait in a bid to pressure the West over negotiations regarding a collapsed nuclear deal


The unprecedented move would represent an extraordinary commitment in the Middle East by US forces as the Pentagon tries to focus on Russia and China.
