Amid escalating tensions in the ongoing Iran war, the United States has widened the scope of its maritime blockade on Tehran’s ports, allowing forces to target vessels carrying a wide range of “contraband” goods, and assert the right to stop, search and seize such ships globally, as reported by Reuters citing a US military advisory on Thursday.
The “contraband” goods included weapons, weapons systems, ammunition, nuclear materials, crude and refined oil products as well as iron, steel and aluminium.
US military forces has expanded the blockade on Iran to include cargoes and any vessels suspected of trying to reach Iranian territory will be “subject to belligerent right to visit and search”, the US navy said in an advisory.
“These vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure,” the navy said in an updated advisory after a blockade was imposed on Monday.
