Tankers are fleeing the Persian Gulf, but Trump's blockade could fail — Reuters
The U.S. military has officially announced the launch of a large-scale military operation aimed at completely blocking all ships heading to Iran or departing from its ports.
This was reported by Reuters.
Against the backdrop of this announcement, chaotic tanker traffic has been observed in international waters, with captains attempting to avoid collisions with the U.S. Navy.
The main event is unfolding just before the deadline, as the start of the active phase of the operation is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Kyiv time.
According to data from the LSEG and Kpler monitoring systems, the giant Maltese-flagged tanker “Agios Fanourios I” has already turned around near the Gulf of Oman and dropped anchor.
Another large vessel, the Liberian tanker “Mombasa B,” is currently maneuvering within the Persian Gulf, attempting to adapt to the new navigation conditions.
Such business actions indicate an extremely high probability of a real military scenario initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Experts note that the U.S. president is taking a huge risk, as such a blockade requires the constant presence of a massive number of military ships and resources.
If the strategy proves successful, Tehran will lose its key instrument of geopolitical influence—the ability to use oil as leverage against the international community.
However, experts express doubts about the long-term effectiveness of this mission, as maintaining such a line of control on one’s own for months will be extremely difficult.
“The U.S. president wants a quick solution to the problem, but this mission is likely unsustainable in the medium term,” says former senior Pentagon official Dana Strowl.
An additional source of tension is the interests of major global players, particularly China and India, which are the main consumers of Iranian oil.
The blockade could lead to a direct diplomatic and economic conflict between Washington and Beijing, which is unlikely to remain on the sidelines.
Tehran also has the potential for a powerful response, which would threaten U.S. military infrastructure in the Persian Gulf region.
Retired Admiral Gary Rafeed warned: “I sincerely believe that if we start doing this, Iran will react in some way,” hinting at possible attacks.
Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz to U.S. and Israeli ships
Trump announced the “rapid reopening” of the Strait of Hormuz
