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In a bold strategic move, President Donald Trump has authorized U.S. military strikes targeting Iran’s strategic military locations on Kharg Island, a critical hub for the country’s oil exports.
President Trump announced that the strikes successfully neutralized military targets but emphasized that oil facilities were deliberately spared. He issued a stern warning to Iran, stating that if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, further action could be taken against oil installations. Additionally, he revealed plans to deploy U.S. warships, alongside allied forces, to ensure the vital waterway stays open. U.S. Marines are also being dispatched to the region to reinforce this effort.
READ MORE: High Stakes: Trump Announces Major Military Action on Iran’s Kharg Island
In response to Trump’s decisive actions and warnings regarding Kharg Island, Iran appears to have made significant concessions.
This development suggests that Iran may have relinquished much of the leverage it believed it held, likely out of concern over President Trump’s readiness to act. His previous actions have demonstrated a willingness to follow through on threats, reinforcing his hardline stance.
Iran said Saturday that all countries besides the US and Israel may pass through the Strait of Hormuz, in a desperate attempt at coalition busting less than a day after the US bombed military targets on its oil-critical Kharg Island.
“As a matter of fact, the Strait of Hormuz is open,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
“It is only closed to the tankers and ships belong[ing] to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies. Others are free to pass,” Araghchi told MS NOW.
So that immediately gives up most of the leverage they might have thought they had, probably out of fear of what Trump would do. He’s shown them in the past that he will follow through.
They’re trying to salvage things, hoping to break up the coalition by saying it’s only the people firing on them.
Araghchi noted that many ships “prefer” not to undertake the journey due to “security concerns,” but insisted, “this has nothing to do with us.”
“And I can say that the Strait is not closed, but it is only closed to American, Israeli, you know, ships and tankers, and not to others.”
The U.S. doesn’t have a lot of traffic through the Strait; the real impact has been on Asian markets. If they’re saying they’re letting those countries through, that should calm those markets. That also sounds like the report of mines in the Strait from Iran is probably a myth.
Things are going through on Saturday.
Two Indian-flagged tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas crossed the Strait, Reuters reported Saturday.
“They crossed the Strait of Hormuz safely early this morning and are en route to India,” Rajesh Kumar Sinha, the minister of ports and shipping in New Delhi, said.
Araghchi claimed many ships were traversing the Strait.
He’s clearly hoping to stave off a further attack around the Strait from the U.S. and Israel.
Aragchi also tried to quell questions about the condition of the “Supreme Leader,” Mojtaba Khamenei.
“He sent his message yesterday and will perform his duties – he is performing his duties according to the constitution and will continue to do that,” Araghchi added.
If Khamenei is able to work, then he should be able to broadcast a message in his own voice or make a physical appearance. But he hasn’t. So that’s not convincing people.
We’ll have to see what Trump’s response is to this. But sounds like Iran knows it went too far, and is furiously backpedaling.
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