US mulls armed troops on commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz to stop Iran seizures

The US military is considering putting armed personnel on commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, in what would be an unheard of action aimed at stopping Iran from seizing and harassing civilian vessels, four American officials tell The Associated Press.

America didn’t even take the step during the so-called “Tanker War,” which culminated with the US Navy and Iran fighting a one-day naval battle in 1988 that was the Navy’s largest since World War II.

While officials offered few details of the plan, it comes as thousands of Marines and sailors on both the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and the USS Carter Hall, a landing ship, are on their way to the Persian Gulf. Those Marines and sailors could provide the backbone for any armed guard mission in the strait, through which 20% of all the world’s crude oil passes.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP about the US proposal.

Four US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the proposal, acknowledged its broad details. The officials stress no final decision has been made and that discussions continue between US military officials and America’s Gulf Arab allies in the region.

Officials say the Marines and Navy sailors would provide the security only at the request of the ships involved.