Tensions have steadily risen since the administration of former U.S. Iran denies the charge saying it seized the vessels after they collided with local vessels and polluted the waterway. The West accuses Iran of using seized commercial vessels as bargaining chips. Many of the confrontations have happened in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Navy says Iran has seized at least five commercial vessels in the last two years and has harassed more than a dozen others. Navy said in both instances the Iranian naval vessels backed off when the USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer, arrived on the scene. move comes after Iran earlier in July tried to seize two oil tankers, the Marshall Islands-flagged TRF Moss and the Bahamian-flagged Richmond Voyager, near the strait last week, opening fire on one of them. The Pentagon said the USS Thomas Hudner, a destroyer, and a number of F-35 fighter jets will be heading to the area. said last week it is sending additional fighter jets and a warship to the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman to increase security in the wake of Iranian attempts to seize commercial ships there. From time to time Iran holds such drills and says they are designed to assess force's combat readiness and demonstrate the nation’s military capabilities.
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