The US will bolster its defensive posture with heightened patrols in the Persian Gulf after destabilizing actions by Iran this past month to interfere with and seize commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and other strategic waterways, according to a US National Security Council spokesperson.
“[The] United States will not allow foreign or regional powers to jeopardize freedom of navigation through the Middle East waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz,” National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told reporters on Friday, adding that there is “simply no justification” for Iranian actions to interfere, harass or attack merchant ships.
“Today, the Department of Defense will be making a series of moves to bolster our defensive posture in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf. US central command will provide additional details on those reinforcements in coming days,” he continued.
The decision by the US to take further security measures in and around the strategically critical Middle East waterway comes after two internationally flagged merchant vessels were seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy in recent weeks, according to the US Navy who added that Iran has interfered with or attacked 15 internationally flagged merchant ships over the past two years.
In the coming weeks, according to Kirby, the US will also be increasing its coordination and interoperability with the International Maritime Security Construct, which is a coalition of 11 nations formed two years ago to help reassure and protect merchant shipping in the area.
The Strait of Hormuz is vital to the global economy, serving as the only way to move oil from the Persian Gulf to the world’s oceans.
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