Rubio calls on Biden to 'forcefully' confront Iran over movement of warships

Hawkish Republican Senator Marco Rubio has denounced US President Joe Biden's response to Iran sending warships into the Atlantic Ocean, saying Biden needs to "forcefully" confront the Islamic Republic.

Rubio made his comments in a tweet on Saturday containing photos of the Iranian ships and slammed Biden for his "desperation,” over Iran. 

"#Iran’s largest military vessel & most modern missile destroyer are days away from delivering missiles & attack boats to the #MaduroRegime & conducting exercises off our coast," Rubio claimed.

"Biden shouldn’t allow desperation to salvage the Iran deal to keep him from confronting this forcefully," the Florida senator continued.

Iranian naval fleet enters Atlantic Ocean

Two ships, including the Makran port ship and the domestically-built Sahand destroyer, have managed to reach the Atlantic Ocean without calling at other countries’ ports.

A top Iranian military commander said on Thursday an Iranian naval fleet, including two ships, entered the Atlantic Ocean, saying Iran is entitled under international law to have a naval presence in international waters.

Deputy Chief of Army for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said the two ships, including the Makran port ship and the domestically-built Sahand destroyer, have managed to reach the Atlantic Ocean without calling at other countries’ ports, marking the first time the Iranian navy has gotten this far into the Atlantic.

“We consider our presence in international waters an inalienable strategic right of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and we will continue on this path with strength,” Sayyari said.

The military commander did not disclose where the warships were headed.

On Wednesday, however, Politico reported that the Joe Biden administration is warning Venezuela and Cuba to turn away the two Iranian ships, citing unnamed US officials as saying that the ships may be carrying arms intended for transfer to Caracas.

“The delivery of such weapons would be a provocative act and understood as a threat to our partners in the Western Hemisphere,” Politico quoted a senior official with the Biden administration as saying.

The source added that the US would reserve the right to take appropriate measures in coordination with its partners to deter the transit or delivery of what he claimed to be weapons.

US warns Venezuela, Cuba to reject Iranian ships claimed to be carrying arms: Politico

The US has warned Venezuela and Cuba to reject two Iranian ships that it claimed to be carrying arms intended for transfer to Caracas.

The Iranian ships’ journey across the Atlantic has been described as a “significant step” for Iran’s navy, showing the Islamic Republic’s naval capabilities and the Iranian Navy’s increasing access to the Western Hemisphere.

Earlier this month, Politico reported that the US national security community had been monitoring for the past two weeks two Iranian vessels whose ultimate destination might be Venezuela.

Citing three people familiar with the situation, the American news website said the vessels have been heading south along the east coast of Africa.

In response, Tehran said it has always been present in international waters and is entitled to such rights under international law.

While Tehran has not commented on the cargo of the ships, it has pointed out that there is no ban on Iran’s sale of weapons to other countries under UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
 

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