LOS ANGELES (OC).–Accusing President Donald Trump of violating the ceasefire, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Agragchi blamed Trump for a ‘reckless military adventures,” saying every time diplomacy when a “diplomatic solution is on the table.” How ironic that Iran accuses the U.S. of violating the ceasefire agreement when Iran routinely attacks commercial ships transiting the Hormuz Strait. Iran stated clearly that it wants the Strait of Hormuz as a turnpike, where it can charge whatever it wants from safe passage. Trump has said that the U.S. would never recognize Iran holding sovereignty over an international waterway where all commercial ships have a right to transport their cargoes to destinations around the world. Arab Gulf States object to Iran’s arbitrary-and-capricious use of the Strait of Horum to extort cash out of commercial shipping companies attempting to deliver cargoes.
Agragchi can’t possibly think that Trump would accept Iran’s claim of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, knowing that over 20% of the world’s oil, natural gas and fertilizer crosses the narrow strait. “Is it a crue pressure tactic?” Agragchi asked. “or the result of a spoiler price again duping POTUS[US President Donald Trump] into another quagmire,” asked Aragchi. Aragchi should know better, that, unlike Trump’s predecessors, he’s no about to extend the war any longer than necessary to achieve e its military objectives. State Department officials, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, wait for Iran to respond to the latest U.S. proposal to end the eight-week war. Every day that goes by, Iran continues to lose infrastructure, degrading its military to the point it can no longer defend itself. Trump has imposed a blockade on Iranian commercial ships April 13.
Iran relies only on the most crude terrorism to retaliate against a superior U.S. military, having its way with Iran. Iran has no air defenses or capacity to attack the U.S. navy, now imposing its 24/7 blockade on Iranian ports. Trump gives Iran a taste of its own medine blocading all Iranian commercial ship for delivering cargoe to its global customers like China and India. Trump doesn’t accept that European allies have turned a blind eye on U.S. military operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump is the only world leader with skin-in-the-game, doing everything possible to oust Iran from controlling the Strait of Hormuz. EU officials say they want Iran out of the Hormuz Strait but have done nothing to help Trump achieve his mission of ousting Trump from the Gulf. EU officials wants Trump to operate as a global partners, not going it alone in the Hormuz Strait.
Democrats and the fake news criticize Trump for having no plan with Iran, despite the fact that he’s degraded the Iranian military to the point it can no longer wage war. When it comes to controlling the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Republic Guards Corps [IRGC] has been harassing commercial ships for years with its network of high speed swift boats. Commercial shipping companies can’t afford to transit the Hormuz Strait now without fear of Iran attack vessels without authorization to pass. Every EU country should be joining Trump’s military operations to free the Strait of Iran’s piracy. Iran has no right to assert sovereignty and attack commercial ships in the Hormuz Strait. EU officials condemn Iran’s actions but have done nothing to open up the Strait. Where’s the cooperation from U.S. allies who once contributed to joint global security?
Iran lauched attacks on U.S. navy boats in the Strait of Hormuz today, prompting the navy to diable two Iranian ships attempt to dock in the Gulf of Oman. Iran finds itself in checkmate with the U.S. naval blockade preventing any Iranian ship from leaving or entering Iranian ports. If Iran wants to resume commercial operations to bolster its economy, it needs to sign a peace agreement with the U.S. Trump is willing to meet Iranian negotiators halfway, making concessions on Iran’s nuke program. For all intents-and-purposes, Iran’s nuke program has been disabled, unable to continue enriching uranium. Trump was insisting that Iran turn over its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, something Iran refuses to do. But when it comes to peace, both sides should compromise. Working with Islamabad, both sides should compromise to end the Iran War.
Ending the war should be the highest priority for both sides. While Trump holds the cards, it doesn’t mean Iran has no leverage in the conflict. Iran has the terrorist resources in place to continue blockading the Hormuz Strait. For oil and natural gas prices to drop, Iran would have to open up the Persian gulf to commercial traffic. Trump has his hands tied trying to open up the Strait without ally support. If the EU decided tomorrow to get militarily involved, Iran couldn’t fend off EU aggression. Iran has so little left of its military, it would be forced to make a peace deal. More pressure from the EU would be a big help to opening up the Hormuz Strait. Trump can only do so much on his own to get Iran to sign a peace deal. Pressure from the EU would be a big step forward. EU officials can heap enough pressure on Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz.
John M. Curtis
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
