U.S. Navy ends accompaniment of U.S., British vessels in Hormuz Strait

U.S. Navy ships have ended the mission of accompanying U.S.- and British-flagged commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz that started on May 1, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

The U.S. Navy made the decision after no further incidents occurred involving Iran's harassment of commercial ships in the area, Pentagon spokesman Steve Warren told reporters in a briefing.

U.S. Navy ships remain in the area, as crews are conducting maritime security operations, Warren said, adding that the adjustment is relatively minor.

The mission of accompanying U.S. and British ships followed two incidents late last month when Iranian patrol vessels reportedly harassed commercial ships in the strait.

Iranian navy patrol boats allegedly approached the U.S.-flagged merchant ship Maersk Kensington on April 24, and the M/V Maersk Tigris, a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel, on April 28 when it was sailing in Iranian territorial waters with internationally recognized commercial shipping lanes.

The Tigris remains at anchor off the coast of Iran near Larak Island, Warren said.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a sovereign nation for which the U.S. has full authority and responsibility for security and defense under the 2004 terms of an amended security compact, which includes matters related to vessels flying the Marshallese flag, according to the Pentagon. Endi