Likewise, India’s spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, clarified that India had not paid any fees to facilitate safe passage through the Hormuz.
Ships Have Passed Freely through the Hormuz
So far, ships from different countries have passed freely through the Strait of Hormuz, even as the Iran War continues. They include tankers from Pakistan, France, China, India, Japan, Russia, and others.
It appears that Iran has no problem with any country not involved in its War with the US and Israel. Apparently, apart from its aggressors, the only other countries Iran does not want to give easy passage to are those supporting the US’ suppression of Iran’s freedoms.
European Countries Refused to Join the War
In early March, US President Donald Trump realized that Iran was not as weak as he had imagined. So he sought help from European countries. He wanted them to marshal their troops to the Strait of Hormuz to snatch control from Iran, but they declined.
Oil prices had shot up abruptly, and Trump wanted to quell the dissent developing at home and abroad against the war.
Trump then displayed a carefree attitude, saying he did not care about help from other countries. In the same vein, he added that anyone who wanted oil could get it from the Hormuz without turning to the US.
Trump Severally Claimed Success
A couple of weeks into the war, after the world chose to watch from the sidelines, Trump claimed victory.
Normally, war ceases as soon as one country wins. In this case, the situation is different. The US-Israel war against Iran is still raging.
False Claims of Peace Talks
A time came when Trump began to speak of ongoing peace talks. He said that his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was involved in the talks, but Kushner never denied nor confirmed it. Israel and Iran seemed unaware of the talks.
He has spoken of more incidents of ongoing peace talks since, all of which Iran seemed unaware of. The only peace talks that cannot be questioned are the failed ones Pakistan recently brokered.
However, Iran claimed the US had gone with demands and not points of discussion. US Vice President J.D. Vance led the US delegation in the talks, which took place in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.
Trump Determined to Pull Everyone into the War
Trump is restless about being in the war arena alone. Recently, he tried to use the Gulf countries to get the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to authorize the forceful takeover of the Strait of Hormuz.
Even after intense lobbying by the Gulf countries, the draft resolution did not pass. Of the 15 members, 11 countries supported it, 2 abstained, and Russia and China voted against it.
The loss carried the day, since Russia and China have veto power.
Trump has not only directed the US Navy close by to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz, but he has also instructed them to prevent any ships from passing through.
Naval experts speaking with the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) said it was a difficult mission Trump was undertaking.
President Trump is now calling on other countries to join the US Navy, blatantly declaring that if Iran is not going to allow every country to pass through, then even Iran’s chosen countries will not. “It’s all or none”, he announced.
Oil prices, whose rise had been curbed by the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, albeit restricted, have now continued their upward trend.
What Now?
The world is now in a “wait and see” moment. Everyone wants to see which European countries will be vulnerable enough to get entangled in the mess they have admitted is of Trump’s own making.
The world is also waiting to see which UN member countries will give credence to Trump’s position that the UN, just like NATO, is inconsequential.
The fact that Trump would rather have the world population suffer rather than have some oil ships deliver oil to different places is puzzling.
Donald Trump might be blinded by the drive to salvage his image, having ignored all war protocols before invading Iran. However, his allies should be able to analyze the situation soberly. For instance, has anyone considered how China might respond should the Europeans join Trump to gang against Iran?
One cannot ignore the fact that the three countries that traditionally supplied China with a third of its crude oil – Russia, Venezuela, and Iran – are under US-led sanctions.