Today, U.S. officials worry that two Iranian Navy ships slowly steaming across the Atlantic might be carrying the arms Venezuela was alleged to be eyeing a year ago. And now it’s the Biden administration warning Caracas to reject the delivery, saying ominously that the U.S. will take “appropriate measures” if needed.
“They are testing the new administration to see what it does,” said Eddy Acevedo, a former Republican congressional aide who specialized in Latin American and Middle Eastern issues and is now with the Woodrow Wilson Center. “Iran is looking for leverage for nuclear talks, and the Venezuelan regime is trying to push the U.S. into providing sanctions relief ahead of talks with the Venezuelan opposition.
As of Friday, the Iranian ships appeared on course, heading northwest in the Atlantic, according to a defense official. The ships — the Makran, a former oil tanker converted to a forward staging base, and the Sahand, Iran’s newest frigate — are about 4,000 miles away from Venezuela, if that’s their destination.the ships are in the Atlantic.
Former U.S. officials declined to delve into details of what the United States believed Iran and Venezuela were discussing in terms of an arms deal a year ago, some of which is classified. But they confirmed that there was alarm in Washington about, especially long-range ones. Even if the fast-attack boats are the most important part of the deal, those still can be used in a weaponized way, former officials and analysts noted.
to derail those transfers — such as by convincing other countries to temporarily bar the Iranian flights from their airspace — and it’s not clear how many have managed to get through or what exactly was handed over. The United States has in the past stopped tankers believed to be carrying Iranian oil bound for Venezuela, as well as vessels alleged to be hauling Iranian weapons bound for the militia groups like Yemen’s Houthi rebels. But in those cases, the targeted ships didn’t belong to the Iranian Navy or even necessarily to Iran. In one case,with sanctions and legal penalties to gain access to the vessels.
The U.S. has other options. It could use covert methods to destroy the cargo once it’s delivered, an option former Trump administration officials say the Biden team should strongly consider if long-range missiles are involved. If the items delivered are not as dangerous as American officials fear they could be, the Biden administration could also further ramp up economic sanctions on both countries over the delivery.
who gives a shit. how bout he lets venezuela conduct its own foreign policy
Lies , lies , some American fries 🍟 with those lies
“If we’re not going to respond to this, what are we going to respond to?” Laughable threat inflation.
Leave it to politico to write a article advocating for more war..remember Judith miller and the NYT parroting cia propaganda about wmds in Iraq..
This is what internalized US empire looks like 🚶🚶🚶
Rent Free. Since 1979.
….where are their masks? Rules for different people.
'Warships on the high seas have complete immunity from the jurisdiction of any State other than the flag State.' - Article 95 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea - Part VII
Politico: Manufacturing consent for the military industrial complex
Meanwhile the US (looking at notes) COAST GUARD! patrolled the Persian Gulf.
Reveille!
No it isn’t. If we can sell weapons to the war criminal Saudis and Israelis like it’s no one’s business then Venezuela and Iran can certainly trade weapons amongst each other like it’s none of *our* business. Its got nothing to do with us. 🤷🏻♂️
If those Iranian ships get too close, they should have to say hello to some missiles or torpedoes.
Ooouuuu, scary.
Now do an article on why the US Coast Guard is in the Persian Gulf
.
Take ‘em out
KayLauffer1 They are literally walking all over Senile Joey. Karmella too !
Steaming? Is this the 1800s?
History lesson for journos at Politico
Dig deeper into the why. Just as Taliban was paid bounty by Russia to kill American soldiers the Iranians could be getting paid for doing this by the same leader.
They see him & our country being distracted, because of the republicans. Americans need to see the harm they are doing from all angles😳
How many US navy ships are steaming across the globe at this specific moment? To be silent is part of journalistic imperialism. That is you Politico with this article---journalistic imperialism.
EU News All Day Advertise Human Rights ,but does Not React to Us! All Media are Silent! It is don't turns out Slandered and Poisoned Us.Because of Politics, they can STOLEN us!! EU is Waiting for Montonegro to Pack and Send Us home to DEATH!
You are a stenographer of the US state department.
Whats it got to do with us?
Getting ready for attacks? Is there a 911 on the horizon. In multiple locations? Wake up America!
Really?
LOL. What kind of nonsense is this? The Iranian “navy” is a joke and ours is far and away the most powerful on the planet. We’re the nation that defends the right of free passage around the world. Nobody is really nervous about this. Get real.
Iran is the 1 state sponsor of terrorism. Keep the sanctions on them.
Deja vu another Cuban Missile Crises?Too close for comfort.Already we are seeing intruders from Venezuela coming through our Southern border.Terrorists or not?Puppet Biden puts us all in harm’s way and we just let it happen.Inexcusable.USCongress TheJusticeDept CNN MSNBC
America sells weapons to countries hostile to Iran. Bit hypocritical to complain about possible sales to a country that could never consider armed action against the U.S. The U.S. is constantly in the Persian gulf as well. This article is bootlicking for the hegemony.
As long as Biden govern US Iran will keep violating the international law as well as threatening the international peace. Biden will keep offering concessions to please Iran’s leaders . During Biden’s era Iran will possess the mass destruction weapons along with nuclear weapons
As they should!
Iranians beware ...
Pretty sure the USA is a bigger threat to the world than Iran.
Two sovereign countries conducting trade
The usual
Barbiewithatude 'For Iran, whose enmity with America goes back more than 40 years,…' Yeah, this is the type of hard-hitting, ahistorical non-reporting we look to Politico for.
Boo hoo
Ayatollah onboard along his 72 virgins loaded with seamen
The two ships in question.
So no means nothing cause his going ignore it.
Shameless USA, what's your fleets doing in the Persian Gulf?
It’s international water !!! Any ship can be there it’s that simple
Sounds like none of our fuckin business.
May God drown USA
How dare they...use international waters?
Since when did the US military own the Atlantic?
Does the US president own the Atlantic waters?
No, they are testing the Republicans who are complicit as to who is the President. Meaning Country w/o anyone at the helm.
Fix Flint's drinking water and stay out of South America.
Only 2 ships? They're nothing compared to US warships and our president would be very comfortable to push the red button. So Iran mullahs are the ones in uncomfortable waters with their stupid election going on.
Putz
LMAO The patched bathtubs referred to as 'Iranian Warships'
Did he try telling them to stop?
oh shit how many us ships are in the persian gulf?
this just feels like an excuse to heighten tensions with two countries that will absolutely never attack us
Is this what passes for journalism at Politico? Pitiful.
HEY MORONS, THIS IS THE SAME THING THE US DOES ACROSS THE WORLD. PS. THE US DOES NOT OWN THE WORLD. IRANIAN SHIPS CAN GO ANYWHERE THEY WANT.
I honestly did not know that the US government owned the Atlantic ocean 🌊.
That's OK. Those secret Jewish space laser beams will take out those warships
Shut up
Give ‘em hell, Joe.
He hasn't a clue.. where is our leadership?
Incompetent design will likely cause them to sink.
Putin-supplied arms I would guess.
what
If I enjoy this privilege all alone, it shows how ungrateful I am because I got my breakthrough from a post been posted online as well and I also want to recommend everyone too. All thanks to the good work of kimberlyalr88
rooting for Iran and Venezuela here
This should be interesting
Biden already warned them. I thought that ship turned around headed back home
I don't want US propelled into another war!
Ok, I get it, Iran is the enemy, and we don’t like the enemy shipping weapons. But the United States ships weapons ALL OVER THE WORLD. It’s a major US industry. On what authority does the US have to interfere with international shipping?
Protect the homeland. That is your mandate.
If you are so concerned then stop them !
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