Against the high-stakes backdrop of the ongoing multi-nation negotiations over its nuclear program, Iran is reportedly engaging in more interceptions of commercial ships than previously disclosed; and one of those vessels is operating under the flag of the United States.

On Tuesday, Middle Eastern news sources, in their initial breaking news reports on the incident, indicated that an Iranian naval vessel had fired upon and redirected a U.S.-flagged cargo ship toward a port on the coast of Iran. As the details of the shocking seizure of that container ship became available, it was learned that the vessel was, in fact, flagged to the Marshall Islands. Pentagon sources say there are no Americans on board the ship that was seized and reportedly boarded by Iranian military personnel for reasons yet undisclosed.

Now several media outlets, including CNN, are reporting that U.S. military sources have revealed a naval patrol manned by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard did recently intercept a U.S.-flagged commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. That body of water is the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is arguably one of the most important sea lanes in the world.

Source: Norvell Rose, www.westernjournalism.com