The first of four polluted U.S. navy ships
IN PHOTO: The first of four polluted U.S. navy ships due to be scrapped in Britain docks at a ship yard at the northern English port of Hartlepool, November 12, 2003. The four so called "Ghost Ships", which contain asbestos and other pollutants, are being towed across the Atlantic to be scrapped under a contract with a British firm. Pictures of the Month November 2003 Pictures of the Year 2003. REUTERS/Darren Staples

The U.S. Navy has sent its ships to accompany U.S.-flagged commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz in the aftermath of concerns that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps or the RGC may capture a U.S. cargo ship. The narrow strait links the Arabian Sea with the Persian Gulf and lies partly in Iranian waters. Ships not loaded with weapons or violating other such restraints are allowed in its vicinity under the right of innocent passage.

Though this is a vital change of strategy, yet the Pentagon has clarified that it would not be escorting the ships but only accompany them for the sake of safety. The Pentagon approved the plan on Thursday.

What this means is that an armed warship will be present in the channel between Iran and Oman whenever a US cargo vessel plies. The move by the U.S. came after off late Iran captured a US cargo ship in the strait recently. Iran Revolutionary Guard ships had harassed a U.S.-flagged vessel, the Maersk Kensington, last week and then later seized another cargo ship, the Maersk Tigris.

Iranian media justified the seizure of the U.S. ship saying that it was due to a court order. The order was passed when a private Iranian company complained about debts.“Out of an abundance of caution, because of the unpredictability of our Iranian friends, we’re now positioned so that, should the Iranians decide that they’re going to be stupid, we’re ready to respond,” said one U.S. official. So far, there has been no response from Iran about this significant move by the President Barack Obama-led superpower.

The Maersk Tigris is being held by Iran since Tuesday because an Iranian convoy that was suspected of carrying arms and ammunition for militant friends in Yemen was blocked by the U.S. military, thus leading to a hike of tensions in the Persian Gulf. The representative of a company that operates Maersk Tigris, was allowed to board the vessel for the first time since its seizure. It has spoken about the safety of all the crew members, most of whom are non-American.

The writer can be contacted at ritambanati@yahoo.com

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