President Donald Trump reportedly is weighing a strategy to counter Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz
This includes the possible seizure or blockade of Kharg Island, a key hub for Iran's oil exports
The move, detailed by Axios, underscores the administration's effort to restore stability to global energy markets after Tehran's actions sent oil prices above $100 a barrel and disrupted a key maritime route that carries roughly 20% of the world's oil supply.Kharg Island, located just miles off Iran's coast, handles about 90% of the country's crude exports, making it a critical pressure point.
Administration officials say no final decision has been made, but options on the table range from a naval blockade to a full-scale operation involving U.S. troops.
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From Andrew McCarthy at the National Review Online...
ReplyDeleteWhile we are at war with Iran, while Iran’s leverage in the war is its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, where its de facto blockade has suspended a fifth of the world’s oil commerce, the Trump administration has lifted sanctions on 140 million barrels of Iranian oil. At the currently inflated prices, this is worth about $14 billion to Tehran. The revenue will underwrite the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ continuing combat operations against the United States, Israel, and U.S.-friendly Gulf states -- including the attacks and threats that have effectively closed the Strait.