US military: "locked and loaded" to strike Iran's power plants, energy industry if ordered

The US military has widened its blockade to include cargoes deemed contraband, and any vessels suspected of trying to reach Iranian territory will be, "subject to belligerent right to visit and search," the US Navy said in an advisory on Thursday.

"These vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure," the navy said in an updated advisory.

Contraband items listed included weapons, weapons systems, ammunition, nuclear materials, crude and refined oil products as well as iron, steel and aluminum.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; writing by Phil Stewart and David Ljunggren; editing by Michelle Nichols and Will Dunham)