By Xenix News
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Strait of Hormuz was nearly vacant on Monday, even after US President Donald Trump declared that the US military would start safeguarding vessels attempting to depart the Gulf.
Shipping data platforms indicated that one sanctioned tanker, the Nooh Gas flying the Botswana flag, passed through the Strait on Monday. At 5am ET, no other cargo ships or tankers were seen navigating through the Strait.
Iran has dismissed Trump’s proposal to direct ships through, cautioning that “any foreign military presence, particularly the invading American forces” will be targeted if they attempt to come close to or enter the Strait of Hormuz.
Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, the spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces unified command, stated that Iran will safeguard the strait’s security “with full force” following the US commitment to assist trapped vessels through the oil shipping chokepoint.
Iran’s foreign ministry stated that the US could not extricate itself from its “self-created predicament.”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran sees itself as the protector and guardian of the Strait of Hormuz and this crucial waterway,” stated Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei.
Baghaie mentioned that Iran and Oman, located on the southern coast of the Strait, were ongoing discussions regarding the administration of the waterway. Baghaei stated that the two nations hold “a mutual obligation to ensure the safety of maritime navigation in this crucial waterway.”
Oman has remained silent.
Simultaneously, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a map asserting Iranian military dominance over a large region on either side of the chokepoint.
“Vessels for civilians and commerce that adhere to transit directives provided by the IRGC Navy and align their paths will remain safe and protected,” a spokesperson stated, as reported by the semi-official Fars news agency. “[However] any maritime action that fails to adhere to these regulations would encounter significant dangers,” including the possibility of being forcibly halted, the spokesperson stated.
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