During the India-Pakistan skirmishes that erupted after the killing of over 40 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad forewarned New Delhi that if the Indian armed forces crossed the border, Pakistan Army will not think of retaliation, but will retaliate.
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Pakistan did fulfil its promise and instantly countered the Indian surgical strikes. Does Iran have the courage to attack the mightly US or even its interests in the region knowing very well that it could almost be suicidal?
According to experts talking to the EurAsian Times, there are growing apprehensions that Tehran may target the strategic Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most critical chokepoint for global oil supplies. Iran has been threatening to block the waterway — located between Oman and Iran — through which more than a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped.
The most effective weapon that Tehran can employ would be sealing the Strait of Hormuz. This would not only impact the US but a host of other nations including key Iranian allies like India and China stated the expert while talking on condition of anonymity to the EurAsian Times.
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Any attempt by Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz or disrupt oil transportation through the waterway will gravely disturb the global oil supply as there are few options to circumvent the critical chokepoint.
While many critics doubt Iran’s capability to completely close the Strait of Hormuz, they, however, agree that Tehran could attack oil tankers passing through the region.
Earlier in June, the US accused Iran of attacking two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, a claim rejected by Tehran. A month later, Iran seized a British-flagged tanker, Stena Impero, to retaliate against the UK capturing an Iranian ship which clearly displayed Tehran’s prowess in the strategic waterways.
About 22.5 million barrels of oil a day passed through the Strait of Hormuz on average between the start of 2018 and June last year, according to energy analytics firm Vortexa. That’s approximately 24% of daily global oil production over that period, and almost 30% of oil moving over the world’s oceans.
Iran could target US-flagged container ships that serve the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command and frequently cross into the Persian Gulf. “Vessels with US flag or of definite interest to the US would face high risk of retaliatory action by Iran,” experts talking to the EurAsian Times states.
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Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary – Ali Shamkhani today talked about 13 options that Tehran had for responding to the murder of General Qasem Suleimani by the US. Shamkhani added that “even the most gentle of them can be a historical nightmare for the United States.”
Syed Shafiq. Views Personel
