Pentagon vows pursuit of Iranian vessels beyond Middle East waters

The United States will expand enforcement of its blockade on Iran, warning it will “actively pursue” Iranian-flagged vessels and any ships providing support to Tehran, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.

According to Caine, US forces would widen operations beyond the Gulf to other regions, including the Indo-Pacific, Caliber.Az reports via US media. 

“The joint force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific Area of Responsibility under the command of Admiral [Samuel] Paparo, will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” Caine said.

He said the measures would also target so-called “Dark Fleet” tankers used to transport sanctioned Iranian oil.

“This includes Dark Fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil. As most of you know, Dark Fleet vessels are those illicit or illegal ships evading international regulations, sanctions or insurance requirements.”

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a warning to Tehran, urging it to reach a deal with Washington.

“To Iran: Choose wisely. I pray you choose a deal which is in your grasp for the betterment of your people and for the betterment of the world,” Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing. “In the meantime, the War Department is locked and loaded.”

The Pentagon said the measures were aimed at enforcing restrictions linked to Iranian ports and maritime activity, while maintaining that general commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained unaffected.

Caine said enforcement would extend into Iranian territorial waters and apply broadly to vessels linked to Iranian ports.

“Let me be clear, this blockade applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading into or from Iranian ports,” he said.

“The US action is a blockade of Iran’s ports and coastline, not a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Enforcement will occur inside Iran’s territorial seas.”

He added that US forces had so far not boarded vessels but said some ships had turned back.

Caine also said Iran lacked the capability to control the waterway.

“You like to say publicly, Iran, that you control the Strait of Hormuz, but you don’t have a navy or real domain awareness. You can’t control anything, to be clear,” he said.

Hegseth described Iran’s actions in the region as unlawful and warned of further escalation if the situation deteriorated.

“If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure,” he warned.

By Aghakazim Guliyev