The Wall Street Journal reported on the 18th, citing U.S. officials, that the U.S. military plans to board and seize oil tankers and merchant vessels linked to Iran sailing in international waters in the coming days, extending its naval strike operations beyond the Middle East region.
The U.S. military's plan to board and seize vessels linked to Iran on the high seas worldwide represents an extremely serious and unprecedented strategic escalation. This move marks a shift in America’s policy toward Iran—from regional deterrence to global economic and maritime blockades, aiming to completely cut off Iran’s energy trade lifeline and fundamentally undermining the basic principle of freedom of navigation on the high seas under international law.
This latest deployment by the U.S. military is a "high-stakes gamble" that sacrifices the integrity of international maritime rules, seeking to squeeze Iran’s economy into negotiations. It not only risks direct military confrontation between the U.S. and Iran but also brings significant uncertainty to global energy markets and international shipping order.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862868274092096/
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