The US boarding of an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday shows Washington making good on a pledge to track Iran-linked vessels anywhere in the world, an extension of its blockade of Iranian ports that increases the pressure on Tehran.
But the expansion of the area of conflict thousands of miles from the Persian Gulf could widen the gap to be overcome at any peace talks.
US Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Dan Caine last week emphasized that Iran-linked vessels would have a hard time avoiding the global reach of the US Navy. He specifically mentioned the area overseen by US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).
Marine tracking data showed the tanker, the M/T Tifani (International…