![\"secdef_trump\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/valorguardians.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/sec-def-trump.jpg?ssl=1\")
\nPresident Donald Trump looks to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper during a ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, July 23, 2019. (Carolyn Kaster\/AP)<\/p>\n
\nPresident Donald Trump looks to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper during a ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, July 23, 2019. (Carolyn Kaster\/AP)<\/p>\n
In a move reminiscent of Operation Earnest Will, where US forces protected Kuwaiti-owned tankers from Iranian attacks in 1987 and 1988, our military will provide protection for American vessels in the Persian Gulf and Straights of Hormuz. The U.S. naval and air presence in the Gulf theater is to act as a deterrent to Iran, keeping them from threatening to stop or seize any American commercial ship, SecDef Esper said on his first day on the job.<\/p>\n
By Robert Burns<\/strong><\/p>\n WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. military intends to protect American commercial ships against Iranian threats in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz but will not provide naval escorts in every case, the newly installed defense secretary said Wednesday.<\/p>\n The aim of the U.S. naval and air presence in the Gulf area is to deter Iran from threatening to stop or seize any American commercial ship, Mark Esper told reporters on his first full day as Pentagon chief.<\/p>\n Esper, who previously served as the Army\u2019s top civilian official, was confirmed by the Senate and sworn at the White House on Tuesday, ending a seven-month absence of a confirmed defense secretary.<\/p>\n He indicated that addressing the Iran issue is one of his first priorities. Threats to navigation in the Gulf have become an international issue in recent months as Iran has responded to increased U.S. economic sanctions that have strangled its oil exports.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Earlier this month the U.S. had discussed with its allies the formation of an international naval escort for oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab on either side of the Arabian Peninsula, where much of the global crude oil traffic passes.<\/p>\n The new Pentagon chief, sworn in to his post at the White House on Tuesday after being confirmed by the Senate earlier in the day, said that dealing with the issue of Iran would be one of the first on his list of priorities.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n If the Iranians are caught laying sea mines, or attacking a US vessel, it’ll be Operation Praying Mantis Part II.<\/p>\n![\"uss](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/valorguardians.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/USS-Boxer-during-a-vertical-replenishment-at-sea-e1564074134425.jpg?ssl=1\")
\nA SH-60 Sea Hawk flies over the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) during a vertical replenishment-at-sea. Boxer is part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region. <\/p>\n