Pentagon: IRGC Harassed Another Ship Last Week

In response to the seizure of a Maersk ship by Iran, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense stated that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had also 'harassed' a commercial vessel flying the U.S. flag last week. According to Steve Warren, 'It is hard to understand exactly why the Iranians behave this way.' The Pentagon spokesperson called on Iran to respect all international laws regarding freedom of navigation, which Iran is also a signatory to. Bloomberg reported that Washington is in discussions with officials from the Marshall Islands, the flag state of the seized vessel, for further actions. Although the Marshall Islands is an independent country, it has military and security relations with the United States that allow the U.S. to defend it internationally. Maersk, whose commercial ship was seized on May 8 in the Strait of Hormuz under the Marshall Islands flag, stated that the crew is safe but they have not been informed of the reason for the seizure. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said a day after the incident that Tehran is committed to freedom of navigation and its obligations. According to Tasnim News Agency, Maersk has owed the Iranian company 'Pardis Oil Products' for over a decade regarding a shipment that 'was never delivered.' Reports indicate that IRGC naval patrol units fired warning shots at the vessel last Tuesday to seize it. In response, the U.S. Navy dispatched a destroyer and an aircraft to the area. The White House and the U.S. Department of Defense have stated they are closely monitoring the situation. In this context, the Iranian Foreign Ministry expressed hope for the release of the Marshall Islands-flagged ship. The Iranian Ports Organization stated that the reason for the seizure of the Maersk ship is a legal complaint from an Iranian company. Iran seized a commercial ship after firing warning shots in the Persian Gulf.