The Pentagon announced Monday that a U.S. nuclear submarine will cross the Strait of Hormuz for the first time, accompanied by other warships.
A Pentagon official said that the passage of the submarine was a signal to Tehran and a commitment by Washington to protect its allies, noting that the USS Georgia submarine is armed with more than 150 Tomahawk missiles.
The crossing comes hours after the commander of US forces in the Middle East, General Frank McKenzie, said his country was “ready to respond” if Iran attacked it on the first anniversary of the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani.
“We are ready to defend ourselves and our friends and allies in the region, and we are ready to respond if needed,” he told reporters.
