The US State Department has announced that it was “premature” to say whether the use of force is needed after Iran boarded a cargo ship.

A Marshall Islands-flagged container ship was seized by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz due to legal issues.

Iranian forces reportedly boarded the vessel, Maersk Tigris, to a port south of Iran on Tuesday.

“The security compact between the United States and the Republic of Marshall Islands gives the US authority and responsibility for security and defense matters that relate to the Marshall Islands, including matters related to vessels flying the Marshallese flag,” State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said on Tuesday afternoon.

“But it won’t surprise you that we, you know, have not done a thorough, full-ranging analysis of that compact in the last couple of hours. … But certainly that’s something we’re looking — we’re looking at,” he added.

The Pentagon announced that no American citizen was involved in the incident.

The incident happened in the Strait of Hormuz after the ship reportedly trespassed on Iranian waters.

Iranian naval forces fired warning shots across the bow of the vessels.

The container ship sent a distress call to the USS Farragut, but the destroyer left the area after it was told by Iranian forces not to intervene.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said the destroyer was directed "to proceed at best speed to the nearest location of the Maersk Tigris."

By Press TV