Seizing the British-flagged tanker Steno Impero July 19 in the Persian Gulf, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said today that the U.K. would join an European Union [EU] security force in the Persian Gulf to stop Iran’s tanker war. Iran claims British marines interdicted Iranian supertanker Grace 1 July 4 near Gibraltar with oil bound for Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime. British marines said the operation was fully authorized by the EU for violating EU sanctions, barring Iran from selling oil to Syria and other countries. Iran’s 59-year-old U.S.-educated Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called British actions “piracy,” not accepting the international community’s ban on Iranian oil sales. When 73-year-old President Donald Trump cancelled May 8, 2018 U.S. involvement in former President Barack Obama’s July 15, 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA], Iran’s gone wild..
Trump pulled out of the JCPOA primarily because he couldn’t verify Iran’s compliance on nuclear enrichment, something integral to the JCPOA. Obama handed Iran $1.8 billion in cash, giving an additional $150 billion in sanctions relief on a promise that Iran would curtail in nuclear enrichment program, limiting uranium hexaflouride gas production to under four percent. U.N.’s nuclear watchdog arm, the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA], agreed to monitor Iran’s enrichment activities. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei refuses to allow IAEA inspectors, headed by the late Ukiya Amano, blocking IAEA access to Iran’s secret military sites. Deciding to vacate the JCPOA May 8, 2018, Trump said the agreement was worthless because it could not be verified. Trump also wanted to impose sanctions on Iran for its proxy war with Yemen’s Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia.
Implementing joint security measures with the EU, Hunt said he would not join Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, despite its malign activities in the Mideast and North Africa. “We will seek to establish this mission as quickly as possible,” calling Iran’s actions “state piracy.” Iranians feel the same way when British marines interdicted Grace 1 July 4. Iran wants its supertanker back, vowing to retaliate against the British unless they release the tanker-and-crew. Just as Ayatollah Khamenei promised, Iran retaliated July 19, using the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard’s speed-boats to overwhelm the tanker. “Seizing the British tanker was a legal measure by Iran,” said government spokesman Ali Rabie, insisting the tanker strayed into Iran’s water and airspace. EU expressed “deep concern” over the incident, insisting it didn’t want to escalate over the incident.
Washington accused Iran of exploding Limpet mines on tankers last month, in addition to conducting its proxy war against Saudi Arabia. Supplying Yemen’s Houthi rebels with ballistic missiles, the Kingdom has watched its oil pumping stations bombed together with strikes on Saudi airports. While Hunt talks like he can keep the JCPOA going, there’s more to Iran’s behavior that making the Persian Gulf unsafe for global oil commerce. Britain finds itself paralyzed dealing with Prime Minister Theresa May stepping down any day now, not knowing what lies ahead for Brexit. Former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, a favorite to lead the Tory Party to replace May, favors tougher action against Tehran. Hunt’s kidding himself that he can separate himself from Trump foreign policy. British finance minister Philip Hammond was sure the U.K. could not add more sanctions to Iran.
Not sure where the U.K. and EU stands when Brexit eventually occurs, Hammond expressed reservations about more sanctions. “We’ve already go a vide raft of sanctions against Iran, particularly financial sanctions, not certain whether more sanctions would serve as a deterrent. What known for sure for the U.K. is that it can ‘t allow any more of its tankers hijacked by Iran. No matter how much Iran plays the victim, it’s tormenting free commerce in international waters. Letting the IRGC to run amok over global shipping lanes sends an ominous message to global shipping companies. Hunt and Hammond are kidding themselves thinking they can go it alone in the Persian Gulf without the U.S.. U.S. naval presence and resources are far greater than anything in the U.K. or EU. Hunt should reconsider an EU coalition that excludes the U.S., something that Tehran wants.
Iran and the U.K. find themselves at loggerheads over the two tankers seized by each other’s countries. U.K. officials can’t resolve the matter until both countries release the tankers back into their custody. “To all countries that are calling on Iran to release the tankers, was asked them to tell Britain the same thin,” said Iran’s government spokesman Ali Rabie. Since Trump pulled out of the Iranian Nuke Deal, EU officials have tried to keep the JCPOA going, despite more U.S. economic sanctions. Instead of pitting itself against the U.S., U.K and EU officials should immediately join the U.S. in pressing the case against Iran, especially about its demand for nuclear disarmament. While all indications points to Britain releasing the Grace 1, it’s time for the EU to align its interests with Washington U.S., U.K and EU must get on the same page to assure security in the Persian Gulf.
