(MENAFN- Caribbean News Now) The Strait of Hormuz
By Caribbean News Now contributor
BRADES, Montserrat – The US accused Iran of being behind attacks on two tankers carrying 'Japanese-related' cargo, in the Persian Gulf, manifest a serious need to pursue a diplomatic adventure on the Persian nuclear question and its impact on global issues.
UN secretary general Antonio Gutteres condemned the attack and warned that the world cannot afford 'a major confrontation in the Gulf region'. The Strait of Hormuz transports 20 percent of the world's oil, conflict in that region would likely impact global energy supplies.
Tensions between Iran and the US has been building given President Donald Trump's Middle East policy and positioning of aircraft carrier, a bomber taskforce and 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East; meantime other countries have warned of the danger of unintended conflict.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: "No proxy group operating in the area has the resources and proficiency to act with such a high degree of sophistication.'
"Taken as a whole these unprovoked attacks present a clear threat to international peace and security, a blatant assault on the freedom of navigation and an unacceptable campaign of escalating tension by Iran".
Both Iran and the US differ on the goals. Iran wants the US to understand that it is Iran's right to enrich uranium and they will continue to do so because according to the Iranian leadership, the purpose of the enrichment process is not to make a nuclear weapon but to satisfy domestic energy needs. The US has deep doubts about this Iranian claim.
The Ayatollah has remarked that Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons but 'America could not do anything' to stop Tehran if it did decide to pursue a nuclear course.
Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, said 'suspicious doesn't begin to describe' the incident in Gulf of Oman.
There is little sign that businesses are prepared to risk getting caught in US sanctions.
Heiko Mass, Germany's foreign minister, has urged the Iranians not to violate the nuclear agreement, adding it was in Iran's 'political and strategic interest to maintain this agreement and the dialogue with Europe'.
Diplomacy is a way better option than threats and intimidation given the uncertainty and to some extent instability in the Gulf, which could produce an unpleasant outcome.
RK Global Analysis Raja Kadri, former chief economist for the government of Montserrat has been writing about the Persian nuclear issue and the geopolitical situation in the Middle East since 2008 and provided critical points for this article, reiterated:
'I have been saying since 2010 that when it comes to Iran, the West and the rest of the World only has two options. The rest is just an exercise in speculating.'
'The first option involves around this question: is the world, especially the US, Arab states and Israel, ready to live with a nuclear Iran like it has with nuclear Pakistan; and if the answer is no, what can be done about it? These are the only two questions whose answers will determine the future course regarding the nuclear diplomacy with Iran.
'What is real is that there is no way Iran will ever give up its nuclear enrichment program so any negotiations starting with this demand are bound to fail.'
Conflict in The Strait of Hormuz is a threat to navigation, maritime shipping and commerce, and according to US Central Command spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Earl Brown, "We will defend our interests, but a war with Iran is not in our strategic interest, nor in the best interest of the international community."
Meanwhile, Pompeo, has instructed US Ambassador to the UN Jonathan Cohen to raise Iran's attacks in the UN Security Council meeting, said:
"Our policy remains an economic and diplomatic effort to bring Iran back to the negotiating table at the right time, to encourage a comprehensive deal that addresses the broad range of threats - threats today apparent for all the world to see - to peace and security.'
MENAFN1806201902110000ID1098650357
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.