US to accompany American-flagged vessels in Persian Gulf - Naval Technology: US Navy vessels will accompany American-flagged commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea, to ensure the security of cargo carriers, US defence officials have announced.
The US Central Command, which is responsible for the country's military operations in the Middle East, has recommended the increased security measures.
The decision comes after Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps navy vessels seized the Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel, Maersk Tigris, when it was in Iranian territorial waters transiting inbound in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Maersk Tigris sent a distress call after an Iranian Navy ship fired shots across its bridge and Iranian personnel boarded the vessel.
"We're now positioned so that, should the Iranians decide that they're going to be stupid, we're ready to respond."
In response, the US navy sent Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut to monitor the situation, along with three smaller coastal patrol ships. Officials said no additional ships are being dispatched to the region.
