The Department of Defense was grappling Wednesday with what options it has to come to the aid of a cargo ship that has been seized by Iran.
Early Tuesday, Iranian patrol vessels ordered the Marshall Islands-flagged Maersk Tigris cargo ship further into its waters as the Tigris was crossing a point in the Strait of Hormuz that is recognized as international safe passage for vessels, but is owned by Iran.
Commercial vessels traditionally cross those waters as they enter an international shipping lane through the Strait without incident. However, on Tuesday, the Iranian vessels fired warning shots across the Tigris’ bow after the shipmaster initially refused to comply with the Iranian orders.
The Tigris was boarded and has been detained near Iran’s Larak Island in the strait.
“It’s difficult to know exactly why the Iranians are operating this way,” said Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren. “Certainly the motive is not clear to the Department of Defense.”
There have been no communications between the U.S. military and Iran, and Warren could not confirm whether there has been any diplomatic outreach between the two nations.
The U.S. destroyer USS Farragut and three U.S. patrol ships; the USS Thunderbolt, USS Firebolt and USS Typhoon; are “close enough” to be able to respond, but have not entered Iranian waters.
However, Warren said, “if the ship were sinking, the Farragut would go render aid.”
In addition, U.S. maritime surveillance aircraft are monitoring the Tigris.
It is the second time in a week Iran has harassed vessels under U.S. protection in the Strait of Hormuz.
A senior defense official at the Pentagon said that on Friday, the Maersk Kensington, a U.S.-flagged cargo vessel, was intercepted by four Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy patrol craft.
In that incident, “the [Iranian] patrol craft at one point encircled the Maersk Kensington, and eventually followed the ship as it continued on its course. The [Iranian] units eventually withdrew from the area,” the official said.
Iran’s harassment of ships in the strait follows its attempt last week to send a convoy of vessels to Yemen, which was eventually turned away after the arrival of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.
The Marshall Islands is a protectorate of the U.S. and is dependent upon the U.S. for its defense and security, which extends to its ships. But the Tigris’ location complicates U.S. response.
“The U.S. government is in discussion with the Marshall Islands on the way ahead,” Warren said.
The Pentagon said U.S. Naval Forces Central Command is communicating with the U.S. shipping industry on how vessels should respond to any further encounters that they perceive to be threatening and how to report requesting assistance from the Navy.
The Navy said it will respond to any threat to U.S.-flagged ships in the sea lanes in the region.
