Washington– The US military announced on Wednesday that it had boarded an oil tanker flying the Iranian flag at sea Gulf of Oman Which was suspected of attempted violation American blockadeThis is the latest action taken by the Trump administration to try to push Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
But President Donald Trump faces pressure of his own at home to resume shipping through the vital corridor off the Iranian coast. Their fellow Republicans in Congress face political headwinds ahead of the midterm elections in November Gasoline prices are rising dramatically and Global energy markets are shaking.
Meanwhile, the Senate on Tuesday introduced legislation seeking to force Trump to withdraw from the chamber iran war, With a growing number of Republicans challenging the president by a vote of 50 to 47.
The M/T Celestial Sea ship was searched and redirected after it was suspected of trying to head to an Iranian port, US Central Command said on social media. It is at least Fifth merchant ship The ship has been scheduled to be boarded since the Trump administration imposed the blockade on Iranian shipping in mid-April, several days after a ceasefire, to pressure Tehran to open the strait and accept a deal. End the war.
The military boarded the tanker after Trump said on Monday that he had called off renewed military strikes on Iran in an attempt to make progress in negotiations to end the war. Trump said he had planned a very large attack on Tuesday but postponed it, saying that America’s allies in the Gulf had asked him to wait two or three days because they felt they were close to reaching an agreement.
Trump has done so over and over again Setting deadlines for Tehran Then I backed off.
Before the US blockade, Tehran allowed some ships seen as friendly to pass Charge huge feesWhich led to accusations that it was holding the global economy hostage.
The US military recently said that 1,550 ships, from 87 countries, are currently stuck in the Persian Gulf.
Nearly three months since the war began with US and Israeli air strikes on February 28, Iran still controls the strait, while the US military has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports as well as ships linked to Iran and far from the Middle East.
Last month, US forces boarded an oil tanker that had previously been subject to sanctions for smuggling Iranian crude oil in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean. Two days later, the United States seized another tanker linked to Iranian oil smuggling in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
In early May, Trump said the US military would begin “routing” stranded ships out of the Iranian-controlled strait. The next day, he announced that efforts were being made to protect the ships It has been temporarily suspended To see if it is possible to reach an agreement.
Days later, American forces Launched and disabled Two Iranian oil tankers after exchanging fire with Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said the tankers were trying to break through the blockade. The day before, the army said so Thwarting Iranian attacks On three naval ships and Attacking Iranian military facilities In response.