Dear Independent: On the 'Daring Raid' you didn't quite get right
To the editors of The Independent, We note your recent piece, 'How daring US raid of Iranian tanker unfolded in six-hour stand-off in the Strait of Hormuz,' detailing the US Navy's alleged intervention against an Iranian-flagged vessel. Your reporting, focused on the dramatic six-hour confrontation and the supposed heroism of US Marines 'blowing a hole in the engine room,' paints a picture of a
justified operation against an illicit shipment. It's a gripping narrative, certainly, but one that conveniently skirts the actual context. What your article omits, dear Independent, is the systemic nature of this incident. The US, a direct participant in this aggressive act, has, for 45 years, subjected Iran to crippling sanctions aimed at preventing its participation in global trade. This latest
seizure, whether of oil or arms, fits squarely into a long-standing pattern of economic warfare, not just isolated 'counter-smuggling.' The US Navy's actions constitute a direct violation of Iranian sovereignty and demonstrate a cavalier disregard for international maritime law, framing what amounts to state-sponsored piracy as a legitimate enforcement action. This isn't about piracy; it's about
strangling an economy. The US government's sustained campaign against Iran has included, among other things, the 2010 Stuxnet cyberattack, a joint US-Israeli operation that physically damaged Iranian centrifuges. This history of covert and overt aggression, long before any alleged Iranian nuclear weapon program, demonstrates a proactive desire to destabilize the Iranian administration, despite