| |
US Bid to Open Strait Tests Ceasefire 05/05 06:15
The Iran war risked reigniting after the U.S. tried to force open the Strait
of Hormuz for commercial shipping, though a ceasefire seemed to be holding
Tuesday even after the United Arab Emirates said Iran fired missiles and drones
at it.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- The Iran war risked reigniting after the
U.S. tried to force open the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping, though a
ceasefire seemed to be holding Tuesday even after the United Arab Emirates said
Iran fired missiles and drones at it.
It is unclear what will follow after an American attempt to end Iran's
stranglehold on the strait by creating an "enhanced security area." A prominent
Iranian official accused the U.S. of undermining regional security with the
effort and warned that Iran will respond.
The U.S. military said two American-flagged merchant ships successfully
transited the strait on Monday, and that it fired on Iranian forces, sinking
six small boats that were targeting vessels. It remained to be seen if any more
ships would cross on Tuesday.
Ship tracking data showed a Panamanian-flagged crude oil tanker heading
toward the center of the strait Tuesday morning after leaving an anchorage in
the Persian Gulf, though it was unclear if it would try to pass through. The
tanker had a stated destination of Singapore, according to the MarineTraffic
ship tracking site.
Iran's effective closure of the strait, through which about a fifth of the
world's trade in oil and natural gas typically passes, along with fertilizer
and other petroleum-derived products, has sent fuel prices skyrocketing,
rattled the global economy, and proved a major strategic advantage in
negotiations to end the war. Breaking that chokehold would ease global economic
concerns and deny Tehran a major source of leverage.
But such efforts also risk reigniting the full-scale fighting that erupted
when the U.S. and Israel first attacked Iran on Feb. 28, prompting it to close
the strait.
Iran accuses US of ceasefire violation
Iran has said the new U.S. effort is a violation of the fragile ceasefire
that has held for more than three weeks.
In a post on X Tuesday, Iran's powerful parliamentary speaker and chief
negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, accused Washington of undermining shipping
security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Qalibaf warned that a "new equation" in the strait is taking shape. He
signaled that Tehran has yet to fully respond to the U.S. attempt to reopen the
waterway, saying: "We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is
intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet."
Trump vows to reopen the strait
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday warned that Iranian efforts to halt
passage through the strait "will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with
forcefully." He said the U.S. effort to reopen the strait, dubbed "Project
Freedom," was intended to aid stranded seafarers on hundreds of ships stuck in
the Persian Gulf since the war began.
The U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center advised ships on Monday to
cross the strait in Oman's waters, saying it had set up an "enhanced security
area."
The UAE bore the brunt of Iran's retaliation
The United Arab Emirates' Defense Ministry said its air defenses had engaged
15 missiles and four drones fired by Iran. Authorities in the eastern emirate
of Fujairah said one drone sparked a fire at a key oil facility, wounding three
Indian nationals. The British military reported two cargo vessels ablaze off
the UAE.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condemned the attacks, saying
the targeting of civilians and infrastructure was "unacceptable." In a
statement on X, Modi said India stands in "firm solidarity" with the UAE, and
stressed the need for safe and uninterrupted shipping through the Strait of
Hormuz, saying it "is vital for enduring regional peace, stability and global
energy security."
Tehran did not confirm or deny the attacks but early on Tuesday, Iran's
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that both the U.S. and the UAE
"should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire."
Pakistan, which has been mediating between the U.S. and Iran, and Saudi
Arabia both condemned the strikes against the UAE.
Saudi's condemnation, in a statement from its foreign ministry, came despite
increasingly strained relations between Saudi and the UAE.
Strait of Hormuz closure has far-reaching consequences
The disruption of the waterway has squeezed countries in Europe and Asia
that depend on Persian Gulf oil and gas, raising prices far beyond the region.
The U.S. has meanwhile enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports since
April 13, telling at least 49 commercial ships to turn back, according to
Central Command. It's also warned shipping companies they could face sanctions
if they pay Iran for transit of the strait.
The blockade has deprived Tehran of oil revenue it needs to shore up its
ailing economy. U.S. officials have expressed hope the blockade will force Iran
to make concessions in talks on its disputed nuclear program and other
longstanding issues.
Negotiations make little progress
Iran's latest proposal for ending the war calls for the U.S. to lift
sanctions, end the blockade, withdraw forces from the region, and cease all
hostilities including Israel's operations in Lebanon, according to the
semiofficial Nour News and Tasnim agencies, which have close ties to Iran's
security apparatus.
Iranian officials said they were reviewing the U.S. response. Tehran has
claimed its proposal does not include its nuclear program and enriched uranium,
long a driving force in tensions with the U.S. and Israel.
Iran wants other issues resolved within 30 days and aims to end the war
rather than extend the ceasefire. Trump expressed doubt over the weekend that
the proposal would lead to a deal.
|
|
