Washington, April 25 (IANS). The US warned on Friday that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz remain at great risk amid rising tensions with Iran, although limited movement continues.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that ships are still passing through this important sea route, but the situation has become more dangerous than before.
He said in a briefing at the Pentagon that there is traffic, but it is not as much as people want and there is more risk in it than before.
Hegseth said the threat is heightened by Iran’s activities, including the use of high-speed boats and threats against merchant vessels. These are just commercial ships and they are being threatened.
The US has authorized strong retaliation against potential threats. Especially if naval mines are laid in the sea.
Hegseth said that if Iran lays mines in the water, we will destroy them without hesitation.
US military officials said efforts are ongoing to monitor and stop these threats, but they did not say how long it would take to remove any mines.
General Dan Kane, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Iran has previously attacked merchant ships in the region. Iran has attacked five merchant ships and seized two of them.
The Pentagon said that the US Navy is maintaining a strict ban on ships visiting ports associated with Iran, while the remaining ships are being allowed to pass under controlled conditions.
Hegseth said the action had prevented attempts to carry out further attacks. He said that this has sent a clear message that this is not a cosmetic blockade.
–IANS
AY/ABM
