US President Donald Trump has instructed the Navy to prepare for a long-term restriction of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Thus, Washington seeks to increase economic pressure on Iran amid a protracted conflict.
This is reported by The Wall Street Journal.
According to the publication, the decision was made during consultations with senior officials. The plan involves effectively blocking the movement of ships heading to or leaving Iranian ports.
The White House considers this option to be less risky than a return to large-scale air strikes, while at the same time it allows maintaining pressure on Tehran without completely curtailing US participation in the conflict.
It is expected that such a strategy could drag the confrontation into a longer phase. Even with a decrease in the intensity of hostilities, the situation with shipping security in the region will remain unstable.
Washington's key goal is to limit Iranian oil exports and reduce the country's income. In response, Iran is also partially closing the strait to other cargoes, which creates additional tension on the global energy market.
On the eve, Trump said that Tehran had already asked the US to ease maritime restrictions. According to him, Iran seeks to restore shipping as soon as possible, as it is trying to stabilize the internal situation. The US President also noted that, according to Iranian estimates, the country is in a "state of collapse".
As a reminder, the European Commissioner warned of the threat of a plane crash due to the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
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