Tehran, Iran – In a move that further escalates the maritime confrontation in the region, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced on Thursday that it had targeted a commercial vessel in the northern Persian Gulf, claiming it belonged to the US military. This attack comes as part of a series of military operations targeting international shipping and amid Iranian threats to assert complete control over vital waterways.
Targeting the ship “Saif C”
Agence France-Presse quoted Sepah News, the online mouthpiece of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as saying that Iranian naval forces targeted the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel Safe Sea. The statement described the ship as “an asset of the US military.” It also indicated that the targeting came after “the crew ignored repeated warnings and alerts.” Furthermore, the crew failed to comply with orders to stop issued by Iranian naval patrols.
Expanding the target circle
This attack is not an isolated incident, but comes a day after the Revolutionary Guard announced similar strikes on Wednesday targeting ships linked to Tehran’s adversaries, according to a statement published by the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA).
The following ships sustained direct hits from Iranian missiles: the “Express Room,” an Israeli-owned vessel flying the Liberian flag, and the “Maiuri Nari,” a Thai cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Revolutionary Guard asserted that these ships were “forced to stop” their voyages after being hit, a consequence of what it described as their “ignoring the naval forces’ calls.”
Observers believe this escalation aims to pressure international powers by threatening the lifeline of global trade and turning commercial vessels into “political hostages” amid the escalating military conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Ultimately, these coordinated attacks jeopardize global energy security. This comes as Washington and the international community await reactions to the targeting of ships flying the American flag or other international flags and serving Western interests.
