Iranian armed forces are compiling and verifying information on commercial
companies, private vessels and maritime service providers that support U.S.
forces in the region, saying the U.S. Military Sealift Command uses commercial
ships to move fuel, ammunition, equipment, food and other supplies. Tehran said
it will judge entities by their operational role rather than nationality, flag
or registration, and warned that companies, owners, operators, ship managers,
maritime service firms or commercial intermediaries that knowingly transport
critical materiel for U.S. actions targeting Iran could be deemed logistical
supporters and face "appropriate sanctions and economic, legal and retaliatory
countermeasures."
