Yesterday, Donald Trump announced the seizure of an Iranian oil ship, and immediately, global oil prices shot up.
However, the greater problem is the anxiety the US action has caused. Recently, the US prevented a Chinese oil tanker from completing its journey at sea. Hence, it returned to the Iranian coast.
This time, the US has attacked an Iranian ship named Touska returning from China. The US military has said so, even as observers captured a video of the US using a guided missile destroyer to attack a cargo ship bearing an Iranian flag. The Iranian ship was close to the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian army has confirmed the attack, but unlike China, it has made its sentiments clear: Iran is going to retaliate, and that will be soon.
No Talks with the US, Iran says
In the meantime, Iran has said it is not going to attend any talks involving the US, as long as the US shipping blockade is in place.
Iran also says the blockade is not the only reason it will not attend talks. There is the issue of shifting goals. Iran is dissatisfied with the US’ tendency to keep shifting goals with regard to the peace talks. The Iranian government is also dissatisfied with the excessively long list of demands the US is presenting.
Iran noted the exaggerated demands and shifting of goals from the communication delivered on Monday, when Trump sent a delegation to Pakistan a few days before the expiration of the 2-week ceasefire.
Conditions for Opening the Strait of Hormuz
According to Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran’s First Vice-President, the only way to ensure the Strait of Hormuz is free for everyone’s use is to allow Iran to export its products, including oil, freely as well.
Otherwise, Reza Aref said on his X account, everyone can expect to shoulder the massive costs of putting not just economic pressure, but also military pressure on Iran and countries allied to Iran.
A University of Iran assistant professor, Zahra Kharazmi, opines that blocking navigation on the high seas constitutes an act of war. Hence, instead of mitigating the war crisis, it seems to be escalating it.
In Kharazmi’s opinion, Iran could retaliate in one of several ways. Among her greatest concerns now is that Iran might decide to close the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb as well.
This strait links the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. It is a chokepoint between Arabia and Yemen.
Many ships normally avoid navigating through the Bab al-Mandeb because of the potential of Houthi attacks. However, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait has come in handy now that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is restricted.
Closing it now would worsen the local and global situation. One wonders if the US is deliberately prolonging the ongoing Middle East crisis.