Iranian patrol boats seize US cargo ship

Four Iran Revolutionary Guard patrol vessels take US-flagged ship.

U.S.-flagged ship, Maersk Kensington was stopped by the four Iran Revolutionary Guard patrol boats last Friday, according to the U.S. Navy. The incident happened prior to an earlier reported encounter, in which a Marshall Islands-flagged Tigris commercial cargo ship was fired at before being stopped on Tuesday.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Both incidents happened to vessels by the Danish shipping company Maersk, which said they are still working on understanding and confirming why this happened.

In a statement given to CNN by a senior U.S.  Military official, "The Iranians encircled the Kensington and followed the ship on its course for a period of time before withdrawing and breaking away."

The U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet immediately disseminated a notice concerning the incident to the mariners, reports said. Although Maersk Tigris' crew claims the ship is still in good condition, Pentagon spokesperson Col. Steve Warren said that the Iranian naval vessels' warning shots fired at the container ship were "inappropriate."

Col. Warren added that the U.S. Navy has already sent a maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to observe and monitor the conditions after the incidents.

Another U.S. official explained that there were no Americans on board, in contrast to some reports by media outlets. There was also no urgency for military action, aside from monitoring, as they believe the Iranians will just "send the ship on its way," the senior official added.

Jeff Rathke, spokesperson for the State Department, said that for the matters regarding defense, there is a security compact between the U.S. and the Marshall Islands. Yet, Rathke added that the Marshall Islands still has no specific call for any assistance, but it is of concern to the U.S. to ensure open and safe sea lanes.