Iran Unveils New Map of Strait of Hormuz to Show Its ‘Control’ over Expanded Stretch of Waterway
Iran has unveiled a new map of the Strait of Hormuz, which it claims shows the area under its control. The move comes as tensions remain high in the region following the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway through which one-fifth of the world’s oil used to flow. However, since late February, Iran has placed the strait under a stringent blockade, resulting in a massive spike in the price of oil, gas, and energy across the globe.
Despite repeated efforts to get Tehran to relent, the regime has not loosened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), an Iranian body set up earlier this month to control marine traffic in and out of Hormuz, announced that Iran was placing the region under the “oversight” of its armed forces.
The 8,800 sq. mi. area extends into the territorial waters of Oman and the UAE, with the latter denouncing Iran‘s claims of control as “nothing but fragments of dreams.” The PGSA claimed that any transit through this area for the purpose of passing through the Hormuz strait requires coordination with, and authorization from the PGSA.
US Secretary of State Denounces Tehran’s Push
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denounced Tehran’s push to establish a “tolling system” in the Strait of Hormuz. He accused Iran of trying to persuade Oman to join the initiative, saying that there is not a country in the world that should accept such a move.
“There is not a country in the world that should accept that,” Rubio said. “If that were to happen in the Straits of Hormuz, it will happen in five other places around the world.” He also claimed that there had been some slight progress regarding the situation involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
UAE Official Urges Caution
A senior official from the UAE has urged Tehran not to overplay its hand in the stop-start negotiations during the Middle East war’s fragile ceasefire. The official, Anwar Gargash, a presidential adviser, said that Iranian officials have missed many chances over the years because of their tendency to overestimate their cards.
“I hope they don’t do that this time,” Gargash told the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague. He also cautioned against an inconclusive ceasefire and emphasized the need for the Strait of Hormuz to return to its normal status as an international waterway.
Oil Tanker Crisis
The oil-rich UAE, which hosts US military facilities, was targeted by about 3,300 drones and missiles during 40 days of war from February 28 onwards. Only around four percent of these attacks got through, said Gargash. He emphasized the need for the Strait of Hormuz to return to its normal status as an international waterway.
The crisis has led to a massive spike in the price of oil, gas, and energy across the globe. The US negotiators are focusing on Iran‘s potential development of an atomic weapon, with Gargash saying that “the Iranian nuclear program was our second or third worry, now it’s our first worry.”
Original Article: Iran unveils new map of Strait of Hormuz to show its ‘control’ over expanded stretch of waterway — Dailymail