Navy may escort foreign cargo ships near Iran

The U.S. is holding talks with other nations about escorting foreign-flagged cargo ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iran’s recent naval moves.

The U.S. Navy is currently escorting U.S. commercial ships, but “there are discussions with other nations to include their vessels as well,” U.S. Central Command spokesman Col. Pat Ryder said Friday. 

Pentagon officials did not say which countries are in discussions, saying it is up to individual nations to disclose their involvement.

{mosads}The U.S. Navy began accompanying U.S.-flagged cargo ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz this week, after Iran fired at and detained a Marshall Island-flagged cargo ship on Tuesday, and harassed a U.S.-flagged cargo ship last Friday. 

Both ships were transiting through the Strait, which is technically part of Iranian territorial waters but also an internationally recognized shipping lane.

The Navy ships will not “escort” each cargo vessel, but will be in the area — in and out of the Strait — to respond in case there are any incidents, explained Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren.

Four U.S-flagged ships were accompanied through the Straits on Friday, Warren said. 

“This is going to continue for an indefinite period of time,” Warren said.