LOS ANGELES (OC).–Attacking three cargo ships and seizing two in the Strait of Hormuz today Iran showed it’s lashing out at President Donald Trump, reminding the world that it’s still a dangerous threat in the Persian Gulf. Over six weeks of war, Iran watched its air defense, military, nuke and ballistic missile capability decimated, but the Republican Guard swiftboat fleet has survived, despite Trump saying he obliterated the Persian navy. However many large ships the U.S. sank in the last six weeks, it doesn’t mean that its small-armed speed boats are not capable of inflicting maximum damage on any commercial vessel in its backyard. Iran has resorted to the most crass state-sponsored terrorism against commercial ships now that its military has been degraded by six weeks of war with the U.S. and Israel. Commercial boat operators are reluctant to put their ships in harm’s way.
Trump decided April 19 to play Iran’s game of not taking Islamabad peace talks seriously, saying, in effect, he’s suspending peace talks for the foreseeable future while the U.S/. navy maintains a blockade over Iranian ships no stuck in Iranian ports. Trump reasoned that nothing puts more pressure on Iran that preventing them from generating cash from oil and natural gas sales to China, India and other oil-thirsty countries. So, Iran responded today attack three commercial ships, taking two hostage in clear acts of piracy and terrorism. Trump can’t control worldwide oil markets closing today’s trading session at $93 a barrel, still high enough to cause pain at the pumps in the U.S. and around the world. Trump watches his approval ratings hammered into oblivion everyday the goes by without a peace deal, keeping financial markets uncertain and on edge.
Iran proves what terrorism experts have know since the Vietnam War if not before that infiltration, sabotage and bush warfare works as well as any conventional army to achieve political ambitions. Iran continues to hold the world hostage with a small fleet of heavily armed speed boats capable to creating mayhem in the Hormuz Strait. Gulf oil-and-gas suppliers like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, UAE, etc., cannot transit the Stratt and deliver cargoes to their customers around the world. Iran’s terrorism has already created jet fuel shortages in Europe, buying some 20% of their jet fuel from countries around the world. Trump decided to hold off on attacking Iran’s oil infrastructure, deciding that if Iran doesn’t take the talk seriously he can wait Tehran out. Blockading Iranian ports has devastating economic pomon Iran’s already battered economy.
Iran’s parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said it “only makes sense” to continue the ceasefire as long as the U.S. ends its blockade of Iranian ports. Attack three ships and seizing two Iran showed the U.S. it can still cause mayhem in the Hormuz Strait. Qalibaf is not talking of Iranian sovereignty over the Hormuz Strait but a lasting peace that would stop the war on Iran’s mullah government. Whether or not Oalibaf has any clout at all in any peace negotiations is anyone’s guess. No one has heard hide-nor-hair from Iran’s 56-year-old newly minted Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei since he sustained injuries in the Israeli bombing that killed his father, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran experts believes that the elite Republican Guard Corps is not ruling the country. Compromising with the U.S. won’t be easy for the prideful mullahs.
Iran wants Israel to stop striking its archenemy Hezbollah in southern Beirut, saying they wouldn’t agree to any peace talks unless Israel stopped its bombing of Lebanese villages harboring Hezbollah terrorists. Israel and Lebanon got together diplomatically for the first time in over 40 years to work out a peace deal, knowing the Lebanese government doesn’t control Hezbollah. With Hamas all but destroyed, Houthi rebels reluctant to take on Israel and Hezbollah facing serious challenges, Iran no longer has its once clout with proxy terror groups around the Middle East. Iran appealed to Palestinians by saying they agreed Israel must be wiped off the map, music to Palestinian ears. Iran has burned all its bridges with Arab Gulf states no longer wanting to back Palestine liberation. Arab Gulf states look to cooperate with Israel on technology and military defense.
Trump decided to let Iran sweat for now over the blockade against its commercial ships unable to leaver ports. Lashing out at commercial vessels, Iran showed it’s no different than Somali Pirates or Houthi terrorists hijacking ships in the Gulf of Aden. Iran no longer has the military necessary to defend itself against any conventional warfare and now resorts to terrorism to defend the failing mullah regime. Lone voice like Parliament Speaker Bagher Qalibaf don’t speak for the IRGC that has a martyr’s bent to take Iran down with the whole boat. Trump wants rationality out of Iran but it’s not in their DNA to act rationally. European Union officials should apply maximum pressure on Iran to open up the Hormuz Strait or face what Trump calls the end of the Persian civilization. Trump doesn’t accept Iran’s demands to pay the Persian nation war reparations.
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.
