US defence and intelligence officials are closely monitoring the path of two Iranian ships that they say could be carrying military equipment and may be bound for Venezuela.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby this week said Washington is tracking the two vessels and reserves the right to take "appropriate measures” if they are determined to pose a threat.
Satellite imagery reportedly shows one ship believed to be carrying fast-attack boats similar to those used by the Iranian Navy to harass US and other international operators in the Arabian Gulf.
“The delivery of such weapons would be a provocative act and a threat to our partners in this hemisphere," Mr Kirby said on Thursday.
"As such, we would reserve the right to take appropriate measures, in concert with our partners, to deter the delivery or transit of such weapons.
“This is a situation that the current administration inherited. We are now working to forestall through diplomacy and other means,” he added.
Both Iran and Venezuela are subject to US sanctions. The delivery of fast-attack boats would be considered a breach of those measures, even though the administration of President Joe Biden is indirectly negotiating with Tehran to offer some sanctions relief.
Politico reported on Friday that the two Iranian Navy ships “rounded the Cape of Good Hope for the first time and appear to be headed across the Atlantic, continuing a journey US officials believe could ultimately end in Venezuela".
But a US official told CNN that “in recent days, [the ships] have sailed in a confusing manner that has observers wondering whether they will proceed on course for the Atlantic.”
If that happens, experts estimate it could take another month before the ships make it to the Venezuelan coast.
Last August, the US government seized four vessels carrying Iranian oil on their way to Venezuela,
The vessels were estimated to be carrying more than one million barrels of petroleum.
Relations between Iran and Venezuela have strengthened as they both attempt to circumvent US sanctions.
