Reading messages fromPresident Donald J. Trumpis an exercise in taunting masochism.
It is one inflicted on commentators and the press corps the world over, and they are not better for it. The latest – and here, the latest will become distant and dated shortly – is that the Strait of Hormuz, predictably controlled by Iran with devastating global effect, was to be reopened for commercial traffic under certain conditions.
Trumpthoughtthis undertaking absolute and indefinite, a rich suggestion coming from a man with such a fair-weather mind.
“Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!”
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This proved typically premature: within a matter of hours, Iran’s decision was, if not reversed then heavily qualified. (The Strait technically always remained open to vessels favoured by the Iranian authorities.)
On April 17, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokespersonEshmaeil Baghaeiaffirmedtwo key principles in Tehran’s policies: Iran retained the right to control traffic moving through the Strait, and that it would not surrender enriched uranium, an issue “sacred to us as Iranian soil” and non-negotiable.The latter was certainly aimed at Trump’s dotty claim that Washington and Tehran would jointly deploy “lots of excavators” to remove fissile material (“nuclear dust”) and shift it to the US. On CBS News, the presidentclaimedthat “Our people, together with the Iranians, are going to work together to get it.” This all suggested much confusion on the part of the Americans.
Iran’s moves on the Strait were always going to be governed by other impediments. There was the demand, for instance, that Washingtonrelease$20 billion in frozen Iranian assets. This was rejected. Trump has also insisted on a continued blockade of Iranian ports, which currently employs over 12 warships and something in the order of 100 fighter and surveillance aircraft. As hetoldFox News, “we’re not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like and not people that they don’t like”. Maritime intelligence on this, however, suggests that the blockade has not been quite as effective as heralded by US officials. Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Groupcan pointto the successful passage of sanctioned tankers and vessels of the shadow fleet such as LPG carriersCrave,RaineandNV Aquamarine.
On April 18, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navyissueda statement that “no vessel is to move from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman.” A number of vessels had successfully managed to pass through under supervision since Friday night, but the Strait would be closed till the US ceased blocking Iran’s ports. “Approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted.”
Source: Global Research
