Tehran has accused Washington of breaking international law by infringing upon its maritime commerce
The US has expanded its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, telling its military to pursue Iran-linked vessels everywhere around the globe, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, has said.
Washington announced it would stop ships from accessing Iranian ports on Monday after talks with Tehran’s representatives in Pakistan failed. Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz for the Americans and their allies following the US-Israeli attack on the country on February 28. The US blockade of the key waterway, accounting for some 20% of international crude and LNG trade, further increased the strain on the global economy, causing oil and gas prices to skyrocket.
US forces outside the Persian Gulf area will also “actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” Caine told journalists on Friday.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff singled out operations in the Pacific, saying that the US would be going after vessels that left Iran’s ports before the blockade started, according to AP.
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