Editorial Board
How to Stop Iran’s Maritime Misadventures
Safeguarding the world’s most important shipping lane will require an international effort.
Time to sail together.
Photographer: Craig Z. Rodarte/U.S. Navy
European nations, alarmed by Iran’s capture of a British oil tanker, are mounting a response to protect their commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf. The Royal Navy has started to escort British ships, and a plan for a European naval mission has been endorsed by Denmark, France and Italy.
It’s a promising start. But effectively curbing Iran’s misbehavior and safeguarding ships in the region will require a more ambitious —and truly international — effort. Most important, it needs to involve the U.S. Navy.