The US is ready to seize Iran-linked ships with boarding parties, as Marines practice maritime raids

Key Points:

• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any vessel attempting to cross the Persian Gulf Strait of Hormuz will be destroyed, following attacks on ships and Iran's assertion of control over the waterway.
• The U.S. Pentagon expanded its naval interdiction to target not only ships entering or leaving Iranian ports but also any Iranian-flagged vessels or ships providing material support to Iran, aiming to enforce sanctions more broadly.
• The U.S. military is preparing to board and seize Iran-linked oil tankers and commercial ships in international waters, extending its blockade beyond the Middle East to prevent Iran from generating oil revenue.
• U.S. Marine Expeditionary Units are deployed and training for maritime raid operations in the region, with the possibility of ground troop involvement to secure Iranian islands and reopen the strait, despite significant operational risks.
• The broader U.S. strategy is to intensify economic pressure on Iran, including the IRGC’s funding sources, to facilitate a peace deal while maintaining naval dominance and enforcing sanctions rigorously.