Reuters: The U.S. is Considering a Plan to Inspect Iranian Oil Tankers

Reuters reported in an exclusive story that the U.S. government is currently examining a plan to inspect Iranian oil tankers as part of efforts to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. On Thursday, March 6, the report cited informed sources stating that officials in the Trump administration are exploring ways for U.S. allies to stop and inspect ships passing through key maritime checkpoints such as the Malacca Strait in Asia and other sea routes. The Reuters report described this action as part of an international agreement titled 'Security Against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction,' which was proposed by the U.S. 22 years ago to prevent the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction and has been signed by over a hundred countries worldwide. In this context, the U.S. State Department told the Persian section of Voice of America that the Trump administration will continue to hold the Iranian government accountable 'with all available tools.' A spokesperson for the U.S. diplomatic service, regarding Reuters' exclusive news about Trump's intention to target Iranian oil-carrying ships, told Farhad Poladi, a reporter for the Persian section of Voice of America, that 'as long as the Iranian regime allocates its energy revenues to finance attacks against our allies, support terrorism worldwide, or pursue other destabilizing activities, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold the regime accountable.' The Malacca Strait connects the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea in the Pacific Ocean. The Reuters report noted that this action would delay crude oil deliveries to refineries and damage the Iranian regime's oil supply chain for revenue. According to this report, parties involved in facilitating the Iranian government's oil transactions will also face sanctions and damage to their credibility. This comes as the Iranian regime has managed to increase its oil exports in recent years by resorting to complex smuggling networks. Trump has promised that by resuming the 'maximum pressure' campaign and isolating the Iranian regime in the international economic arena, he will prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. Among the first actions of the U.S. President in the early weeks of his administration were imposing new sanctions against shadow fleets and companies that transport crude oil from sanctioned countries using old oil tankers.