Washington, Apr 25 (V7N) — The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kaine, has stated that US forces remain “fully prepared and capable” of launching additional strikes on Iran, even after the recent ceasefire.

Speaking at a briefing, General Kaine emphasized that the United States is strictly enforcing a maritime blockade on Iranian ports, with heightened surveillance of vessel movements. He reported that 34 ships had turned back after encountering the blockade as of Friday morning.

However, one vessel identified as the “Tuska” was detained after failing to comply with repeated instructions. According to Kaine, US forces issued warnings over a six-hour period. When the ship did not halt, warning shots were fired before US special forces boarded and seized control of the vessel. The ship and its crew are currently in US custody and reported to be safe.

Earlier, during a briefing on April 19, Kaine revealed that the US military is preparing to expand its operations to search and seize Iranian-linked oil tankers and commercial vessels in international waters. The effort is being coordinated by the United States Indo-Pacific Command, marking a significant expansion of operations beyond the Middle East region.

Officials from the Trump administration have named this new phase of operations “Economic Fury.” The initiative aims to increase economic pressure on Tehran, with the objective of forcing Iran to reopen the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz and make substantial concessions regarding its nuclear program.

General Kaine further warned that the United States will actively target any Iranian-flagged vessels or ships suspected of providing material support to Iran. This includes operations against so-called “dark fleet” vessels believed to be transporting Iranian oil covertly.

The escalation signals growing tensions between Washington and Tehran, raising concerns about the potential for broader regional instability.

END/SMA/AJ