LOS ANGELES (oc).–President Donald Trump’s blockade of Iranian port have not yet stopped Iran from threatening commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, still leaving commercial ships stuck, unable to transit the Strait. Trump’s optimistic that as the U.S. navy asserts itself in the Strait, Iran will back off or, better yet, cut a peace deal to end the war. Iran has showed its defiance refusing in last weekend’s Islamabad negotiations agree to permanent cessation to its nuclear enrichment program. Condicted by Vice President J.D. Vance, he walked away from the table when there’s more room for negotiation. Trump wants Iran to go back to the table to agree to suspend indefinitely its nuclear enrichment program. Whether Iran enriches any uranium now is anyone’s guess. Over five weeks of war have left Iran’s air defenses, nuclear and ballistic programs in shambles.
Inadvertent costs of war with Iran have delayed commercial shipping supply at least 20% of the world’s petroleum, natural gas, helium and fertilizer supplies from reaching destinations. Commercial helium, derived from natural gas, is a vital component in cooling industrial equipment like medical MRI or CT-Scan machines. So, when it comes to agriculture or the medical industry, essential chemicals are not getting to market, something that could create delayhs of indefinite proportions. Getting fertilizer through the Strait of Hormuz off to destinations around the world has been creating shortages of necessary chemicals like urea, ammonia, phosphates and sulfur, all of used in crop production. Today’s delays in the Strait of Hormuz have already set the world agricultural industry into delays, creating scarcity and driving up crop prices.
Trump officials say that many American farmers had already purchases supplies of crop chemicals before the war broke out Feb. 28. “The good news is that about 80 percent of our farmers actually last fall locked in their fertilizer, so as we’re moving into planting season, it’s only about 20% to 25% percent of our farmers that didn’t lock that in,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Whatever the shortages, Iran has prevented commercial ships from delivering cargoes to ports around the planet. Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports is not designed to prevent commercial ships from transiting the Strait of Hormuz but prevent Iran from selling oil into global markets. Trump wants Iran to return to the peace table and sign an agreement to end the war and the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Looks like Iran is still working with Islamabad to find a formula to end the war.
Consequences of shipping delays on the world agriculture industry have already taken a toll on crop production, leaving shortages and higher prices. Doubling of helium has also spiked prices on on MRI tests, leaving more delays and adding to spiraling costs. Farmers like the National Corn Growers Assn. said fertilizer shortages promise to spike prices for the indefinite future. Corner Growers Assn said that shortages and spiraling prices could increase costs for high fructose corn syrup, a common ingredient in a wide variety of beverages. “Added market stress due to the Strait of Hormuz closure has only intensified an already difficult situation, particularly as we look towards 2027,” Jed Bower, Ohio farmers and NCGA president said in a statement. Trump doesn’t expect the war to last much longer but the longer the delay, the more months will be needed to catch up to market shortages.
Costs of farm chemicals and helium used in medical industrial equipment to cool down electromagnets will continue to rise as long as the Iran war slogs on. “Even in the straits were to open up as of tomorrow, it’s going to take a couple of months for things to get closer back to normal,” said Anish Kapadia, CEO of AKAP Energy. Kapadia expect shortages and spiraling prices to go on for months, even if the war ends tomorrow. Helium shortages could muck up much needed medical research, where the equipment needs helium to cool down electromagnets in MRI machines. Iran knows the consequences to its blockade, leaving commercial shipping in chaos, fearing more attacks on commercial ships. Qatar produces about 35% of the world’s helium supplies, now unable to get its products through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump doesn’t have a long runway to end the war.
Trump’s blockade aims to stop Iranian tankers from leaving port, forcing Iran back to the peace table. Seeking assurances about nuclear enrichment activity, Trump wants Iran to stop enriching uranium indefinitely. Iran hasn’t been willing to make the commitment, leaving Trump officials to think they’re looking to build an A-bomb. Iran says it has no intent of building nuclear bombs but its nuclear enrichment activities say otherwise. Enriching uranium over over 60%, just below weapons grade material, Iran has used in nuke program as a deterrent against the U.S. and Israel. So, when it comes to Iran giving up its nuke program entirely, it’s no likely to happen in anytime soon. Trump must find some common ground with Iran to end the war to prevent more shortages and spiraling prices to vital chemicals needed in agriculture and the medical industry.
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
