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2015-05-01 Syria-Lebanon-Iran
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Navy to escort U.S. commercial ships near Iran
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CNN has learned that U.S. Navy warships will now accompany U.S.-flagged commercial vessels that pass through the Strait of Hormuz due to concerns that ships from Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps navy could try to seize a U.S. cargo ship.
Pentagon officials provided clarification Thursday afternoon that not every ship will necessarily be accompanied by the Navy. But this is still a significant change in the U.S. military posture in the Strait. The classified plan was approved by the Pentagon earlier Thursday, according to a senior defense official.
| So don't tell anyone since it's classified... |
While the Navy maintains a routine ship presence in the Persian Gulf and the North Arabian Sea, this new effort specifically requires an armed warship to be in the narrow channel between Iran and Oman when a U.S. commercial vessel passes through.
| What about ships flying the flag of the Marshall Islands? |
The decision to go ahead with this plan comes as Iran Revolutionary Guard ships harassed a U.S.-flagged vessel, the Maersk Kensington, on Friday and then later seized another cargo ship, the Maersk Tigris, flagged in the Marshall Islands.
The worry is that with the uncertainty around Iran's intentions, any seizure of a U.S.-flagged vessel could provoke an international incident with Iran.
"This is a way to reduce the risk of confrontation," the official told CNN.
The official emphasized the Navy is not trying to "play up" the current situation, but said the orders were approved "based on tensions in the region."
A second U.S. official said if it becomes necessary, U.S. warships are prepared to escort U.S. commercial vessels throughout the entire Gulf.
There are a number of U.S. ships and aircraft in the immediate vicinity, including four ships and several aircraft monitoring the status of the Marshall Island vessel, which remains in Iranian custody allegedly over a 2005 financial dispute. U.S. Navy ships will be moved in and out of the area depending on the transit schedule of U.S. cargo vessels.
Iranian officials said the seizure of the Marshall Islands-flagged ship Maersk Tigris was due to a court decision.
| And if you can't trust the legal decision of an Iranian court... |
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Wednesday that the ship had "some rather peculiar activity" in its past that resulted in court action, according to lawyers with whom his ministry has been in touch.
"Simply, our naval forces implemented the decision of the court," he added.
Rickmers Shipmanagement, the company managing the Maersk Tigris, a Maersk Line ship, said in a statement Thursday that the apparent issue dates back to 2005, when another Maersk Line vessel delivered a shipment to Dubai that was later disposed of when no one collected the containers.
A spokesperson for Rickmers Shipmanagement also said that 24 people -- none American -- are on board the Maersk Tigris and that they are all doing well. However, the company continues to "insist that the crew and vessel are released as soon as possible." 
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Posted by Steve White 2015-05-01 00:00||
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Posted by JosephMendiola 2015-05-01 00:29||
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Posted by Besoeker 2015-05-01 02:55||
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Posted by USN, Ret. 2015-05-01 11:27||
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Posted by Pappy 2015-05-01 14:10||
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Posted by Shipman 2015-05-01 19:13||
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Posted by JosephMendiola 2015-05-01 21:36||
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12:13 swksvolFF
12:02 Regular joe
11:54 Regular joe
11:51 Regular joe
11:51 Abu Uluque
11:21 SteveS
11:12 Jack Fleling2104
10:52 Nero
10:44 Procopius2k
10:44 Grom the Affective
10:40 Procopius2k
10:39 Procopius2k
10:37 Besoeker
10:35 Besoeker
10:35 Elmerert Hupens2660
10:31 Frank G
10:29 Grom the Affective
10:27 Glenmore
10:26 Jack Fleling2104
10:23 Glenmore
10:13 Glenmore
10:11 Difar Dave
10:01 Old Patriot
10:00 NN2N1
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No 'international incident' over this one in 1968. I doubt our Champ is too concerned.