An Iranian frigate and the Makran, a former oil tanker that was converted to a floating forward staging base, have been heading south along the east coast of Africa
Iranian media announced Thursday the two warships, the destroyer Sahand and intelligence-gathering Makran rounded the Cape of Good Hope in Africa and are now in the Atlantic Ocean
U.S. is unaware of the destination and cargo of the Iranian ships but there are 2 versions.
1 The former oil-tanker the Iranian Navy converted into a warship could be carrying millions of gallons of fuel to Venezuela in a ploy to get around U.S. sanctions, according to photos that emerged on Persian social media.
2 Citing an unnamed senior official with the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, Politico claimed the ships are believed to be carrying weapons from Iran to Venezuela under a deal between the two countries during the administration of former President Donald Trump.
On Thursday, undated photos of IRINS
Makran show the ship, designed to carry around 3 million of gallons of fuel, riding low in the water compared to its January commissioning photos.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is demanding President Joe Biden take a "forceful" stand against two Iranian warships cruising in the Atlantic Ocean, possibly bringing weapons to Venezuela.
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The Biden administration is asking Venezuela, Cuba, and other ports to turn the ships away if they try to dock.
The Biden administration, however, finds itself in the dubious position of trying to deal with the ships in a firm way just as negotiations start up again this weekend about reviving the Obama era Iran nuclear deal.
The other problem is, so far, Iran is not violating International Law, even if it is carrying weapons as part of a deal with Venezuela.
"Warships on the high seas have complete immunity from the jurisdiction of any State other than the flag State," according to
International Law Article 95.
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