In a robust response to Iran's escalating threat to commercial shipping, the United States has dispatched two warships, along with over 3,000 sailors and Marines, to the Red Sea. This heightened action comes as Washington seeks to counter Iran's recent spate of ship seizures and takeover attempts, significantly raising concerns in the international community.
The Pentagon has revealed that Iran's aggressive actions have targeted nearly 20 internationally flagged vessels in the Red Sea region over the past two years. In an effort to counter this trend, the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain announced on Monday that the USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall have arrived in the area, bringing "greater flexibility and maritime capability."
The USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship, boasts the capacity to carry fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and landing craft, while the USS Carter Hall, a dock landing ship, is designed to transport Marines and their equipment, facilitating operations onshore.
Cdr. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the US Fifth Fleet, explained that this deployment aims to deter "destabilizing activity and de-escalate regional tensions caused by Iran's harassment and seizures of merchant vessels." The situation reached a tipping point following two thwarted Iranian attempts to commandeer commercial tankers off Oman's international waters on July 5. Iran alleged that one of the tankers, the Bahamian-flagged Richmond Voyager, had collided with an Iranian vessel, leading to injuries among the crew.
Tensions have been on the rise since earlier incidents in which Iran seized two oil tankers in rapid succession within regional waters. These incidents closely followed accusations by Israel and the United States that Iran was responsible for a drone strike off the coast of Oman in November, targeting a tanker operated by an Israeli-owned company.
In response to the mounting threat, the United States announced plans to deploy a destroyer, F-35 and F-16 warplanes, as well as a marine expeditionary unit to the Middle East, with the objective of deterring Iran from further ship seizures in the Gulf. Additionally, Washington is making preparations to station Marines and navy personnel aboard commercial tankers navigating the Gulf waters.
Iran, through its foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, has rebuked these actions, asserting that the US military presence in the region only serves Washington's interests, while undermining regional security. Kanani emphasized that Gulf countries have the capability to ensure their own security and stability.
Amid this escalating standoff, experts like Torbjorn Soltvedt from the risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft predict that security concerns will continue to strain US-Gulf relations. Despite any short-term easing of tensions resulting from Iran's attacks on shipping, the perception that the US response is insufficient to deter such threats remains. As the situation unfolds, a new approach to address the evolving challenges may become imperative.