The American military has extended its efforts beyond the blockade of Iranian ports to allow its forces deployed worldwide to intercept any vessel linked to Tehran or suspected of transporting goods that could aid the Iranian government, whether it be weapons, oil, metals, or electronic equipment.
General Dan Caine, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, specifically mentioned operations in the Pacific, indicating that the United States would target ships that have left the Strait of Hormuz before the start of the blockade, even earlier this week. This strait is a crucial maritime route for the transport of energy and other goods.
American forces in other areas of responsibility “will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” he told journalists at the Pentagon.
The military also detailed a long list of goods it considers contraband, stating that it will board, search, and seize these goods on merchant ships, “wherever they are.”
A notice published on Thursday specified that any “goods intended for an enemy and likely to be used in armed conflict” are “subject to seizure anywhere beyond neutral territory.”
The escalation of American military efforts targeting Iranian maritime transport is a new means of pressure on Tehran and comes as the ceasefire is set to expire in a few days.
Mediators are pushing for an extension of the truce that has halted nearly seven weeks of war between Israel, the United States, and Iran.
The new list of banned materials established by the military includes products such as weapons, ammunition, and military equipment classified as “absolute contraband.”
However, it also lists items like oil, iron, steel, aluminum, and other goods as “conditional contraband,” arguing that they can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
Otherwise harmless items, such as electronic devices, electricity production equipment, or heavy machinery, may be seized if “circumstances indicate their ultimate use for military purposes,” the notice states.
Over 10,000 American soldiers are involved in enforcing the blockade on Iranian ports. Although no ships have been boarded yet, defense officials say the military is warning ships linked to Iran that it could fire warning shots or resort to other means of force if they attempt to circumvent the navy.
In the first three days of the military operation, 14 ships turned back rather than facing the naval blockade, according to US Central Command, which oversees the war against Iran.
Some ships linked to Iran or subject to sanctions that left the strait appear to have halted their course, turned off their radio transponders, or turned back towards Iranian shores, according to maritime data companies.
US Warnings
Ships approaching the blockade, which is enforced in Iranian territorial waters and international waters, not in the Strait of Hormuz, receive a warning, Mr. Caine explained.
“Any ship that breaches the blockade would result in our sailors executing established tactics to use force against that ship – if necessary, to board it and take control,” he said.
US Central Command issued a radio message to ships in the region, indicating that the military was ready to use force if necessary to enforce the rules.
“Ships transiting to or from an Iranian port will be boarded for interception and seizure,” the message stated.
Konstantin Toropin, Ben Finley, and David Klepper, The Associated Press
