Dear Independent, About Those 'Tankers Under Fire' in Hormuz
Indian authorities reportedly summoned Iran's envoy following claims that India-linked tankers came under fire in the Strait of Hormuz. The Independent's headline, echoing a familiar refrain, suggests a straightforward act of Iranian aggression disrupting a vital oil route. This framing, however, omits crucial context, glossing over decades of provocation and the consistent misattribution of
maritime incidents in the region. What mainstream coverage like The Independent consistently fails to highlight is the deliberate ambiguity surrounding these alleged attacks. Who fired? What evidence exists tying it definitively to Iran's government? These crucial questions often remain unanswered, replaced instead with vague accusations that serve to reinforce a narrative of Iranian belligerence.
For instance, the infamous 2019 attacks on the MV Kokuka Courageous and the MT Front Altair were quickly blamed on Iran by Washington and its allies, despite conflicting evidence and the owners' initial reports denying an attack. The pattern is clear: incidents occur, blame is immediately assigned to Tehran, and a cycle of manufactured outrage begins, conveniently overlooking any potential false
flags or other actors. This latest incident occurs against a backdrop where the US and Israel are engaged in a joint, illegal campaign of aggression against Iran. While headlines focus on tankers, they ignore the fact that the US alone has deployed two carrier strike groups to the region and periodically flies B-52 bombers, effectively conducting acts of intimidation on Iran's doorstep. This