LOS ANGELES (OC).–Playing a dangerous game of chess with Iran, President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. navy to blockade Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz and other parts of Iran, preventing the Persian national from getting their tankers and freighters out of ports. Since the Feb. 28 war began with Israel and the United States, Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz preventing primarily Gulf Arab states from delivering their products via the Strait of Hormuz. In negotiations with the U.S., Iran insisted that the U.S. pay war reparations and accept the sovereignty of the Hormuz Strait. Iran wants to turn the Strait of Hormuz into a turnpike, charging $2 million a ship, or, if they choose, prevent any ship from crossing the Strait to get products to destination. Trump finds it unacceptable that Iran declare a international waterway available to all ships.
Iran has been mining the Strait of Hormuz or firing missiles-and-drone on ships they deem unacceptable for passage. Iran has resorted to terrorism to block ships from entering the Hormuz Strait. So, when it comes to Trump rejecting the peace talks in Islamabad over the weekend, it was much more that just the nuclear issue. Iran can’t assert control over the global waterway, necessary to assure at least 20% of the global oil and natural gas supply. Iran’s blockade, or, more accurately, blatant terrorism, has prevented oil, natural gas and fertilizer from getting to markets, Iran’s terrorism has created energy scarcity in Europe and spiraled energy prices around the planet. If Iran continues to attack commercial ships passing through the Persian Gulf, it will drive energy prices to interable levels, causing economic hardship in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Trump has give navy commanders strict orders to fire on any Iranian ship firing on any U.S. naval vessels. “Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOW TO HELL” Trump said. “I have also instructed the Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in international Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” Trump said, serving notice that the U.S. navy has orders to shoot first, ask questions later. Trump offered Iran a good deal over the weekend, only to be rebuffed by Iran because they think uranium enrichment is their way to deterrence. Iran admires Pakistan and North Korea who developed nuclear weapons to keep the U.S. from pushing around the reclusive communist state. Trump pointed out that when Islamabad asked to pause the war for diplomacy, Iran agreed to open up the Hormuz Strait.
Trump knows that he can’t trust the mullah regime to make good on any promise to end hostilities in the Persian Gulf. Iran wants a license to continue its terrorism, knowing they’ve lost their leverage in over five weeks of war. Iran lost their air defenses, nuke and ballistic military capability and most of their naval ships. Trump wants the navy to swamp the Iranian coastline, preventing any ports from sending ships through the Hormuz Strait. Ttump has given the mullah regime a lifeline if they care to take. He said he would lift sanctions on oil if they open up the Strait of Hormuz. No one in the Western Alliance has offered to help Trump control Iran’s blockade of the Hormuz Strait, no matter what hardship in cause Europe with restricted oil and natural gas supplies.
Trump can’t figure out why the EU have some skin in the game, considering the fact that they get oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf/ Arab Gulf producers can’t get their product easily to Europe without crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Yet not one European country has offered to help stop Iran’s blockade. EU leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer have offered to lend Trump a hand. EU officials want to punish Trump for not consulting with them before he started a war with Iran. EU officials know that you can’t negotiate with a terrorist state that routinely slaughters its own people for peaceful protests. Whatever support the mullah regime has in Iran, it pales in comparison to the vast numbers of Iranians the want regime change, knowing they have no future under mullah rule.
Trump finds himself on his own fighting the world’s most prolific terrorist state, spreading violence and destruction around the Middle Easter. Arab Gulf state will never trust the Shiite mullah regime again, after firing drones-and-missiles at the peaceful Gulf states. Iran thought if they hit the Gulf states har, they would pressure Trump to stop his war with Iran. Instead, the Gulf State asked Trump to finish off the mullah regime. Whether that happens or no, Trump has his hand full with the lastest blockage. Trump has the U.S. navy positioned to stop all Iranian oil tankers from leaving port, unable now from generating any oil or natural gas revenue. Iran knows that if tries to retaliate against the U.S. navy, Trump will order the air force to strike Kharg Island and other key oil hubs. Trump wants Iran to go back to Islamabad and agree to a deal to end the war.
About the Author
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.
