Editing Strait of Hormuz (section)

=== 2019 U.S.–Iran tensions and attacks on oil tankers ===
Iran has persistently attacked various vessels and seized ships amidst political issues since 2019.<ref name="EconTimes">{{cite news |date=2024-04-14 |title=17 Indians among 25 crew on ship seized by Iran; India in touch with Iran to secure release of Indians |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/17-indians-among-25-crew-on-ship-seized-by-iran-india-in-touch-with-iranian-authorities-say-sources/articleshow/109273322.cms? |access-date=2024-04-18 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389 |archive-date=18 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418175349/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/17-indians-among-25-crew-on-ship-seized-by-iran-india-in-touch-with-iranian-authorities-say-sources/articleshow/109273322.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=US Navy says it prevented Iran from seizing tankers in Gulf of Oman |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/shots-fired-oil-tanker-gulf-maritime-security-bodies-2023-07-05/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=Reuters |date=2023-07-06}}</ref> On the morning of 13 June 2019, the oil tankers ''Front Altair'' and ''Kokuka Courageous'' were both rocked by explosions shortly before dawn, the crew of the latter reported seeing a flying object strike the ship; the crew were rescued by the destroyer {{USS|Bainbridge|DDG-96|6}} while the crew of the ''Front Altair'' were rescued by Iranian ships. That afternoon, U.S. secretary of state [[Mike Pompeo]] issued a statement accusing Iran of the attacks. Iran subsequently denied the accusations, calling the incident a [[False flag|false-flag attack]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/13/world/middleeast/oil-tanker-attack-gulf-oman.html |title=Tankers Are Attacked in Mideast, and U.S. Says Video Shows Iran Was Involved |last1=Kirkpatrick |first1=David D. |date=13 June 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=14 June 2019 |last2=Pérez-Peña |first2=Richard |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |last3=Reed |first3=Stanley |archive-date=13 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613232616/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/13/world/middleeast/oil-tanker-attack-gulf-oman.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2019, a Stena Bulk Tanker, ''Stena Impero'', sailing under a British flag, was boarded and captured by Iranian forces.<ref>{{cite news |title=Latvian citizen on board of British tanker seized by Iran |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/diplomacy/latvian-citizen-on-board-of-british-tanker-seized-by-iran.a326350/ |access-date=2 August 2019 |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia|Latvian Public Broadcasting]] |date=22 July 2019 |archive-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730114719/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/diplomacy/latvian-citizen-on-board-of-british-tanker-seized-by-iran.a326350/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The spokesman for Iran's Guardian Council, Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, was quoted as describing the seizure as a "reciprocal action". This was presumed to be in reference to the seizure of an Iranian tanker, ''[[Grace 1]]'', bound for Syria in [[Gibraltar]] a few days prior.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/6c36f5aa1ba942569e5efcfd48e33324 |title=Iran says its seizure of British ship a 'reciprocal' move |date=21 July 2019 |website=AP News |access-date=2020-01-05 |archive-date=9 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209220320/https://apnews.com/6c36f5aa1ba942569e5efcfd48e33324 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, France deployed about 600 troops at sea and in the air under the CTF474 to protect maritime trade, regional business, and to ease local tensions. Since the first week of April 2020, the operation combines the Dutch frigate Ruyter, the French frigate Forbin, and one French airplane ATLANTIC2 (ATL2).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Costa |first1=George |title=French ATL2 joins Operation AGENOR in the Strait of Hormuz |url=https://internationalinsider.org/french-atl2-joins-operation-agenor-in-the-strait-of-hormuz/ |website=International Insider |date=12 April 2020 |access-date=13 April 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807135639/https://internationalinsider.org/french-atl2-joins-operation-agenor-in-the-strait-of-hormuz/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>