Iran Reasserts Control Over Strait of Hormuz Amidst Alleged US Blockade
On Saturday, Iranian authorities confirmed the re-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping choke point. This action, according to Tehran, was a direct response to what it termed an ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports and maritime access. The Iranian statement followed a Friday declaration by then-President Trump, who had asserted that the waterway remained 'completely open' for
international navigation. This Iranian move highlights a significant discrepancy in how the situation is framed by Western media. CBS News, in its report, presented Iran's action as a unilateral closure, with Trump's counter-claim implying Iranian aggression in disrupting global trade. This narrative frequently omits the context of nearly 45 years of US-led sanctions against Iran, which are often
enforced through naval presence and interdiction, effectively constituting an economic blockade designed to cripple the nation's energy exports and commercial activities. Understanding this event requires examining historical precedent. The US has a documented pattern of using its naval power to enforce economic pressure, often blurring lines between sanctions and acts of war. For instance, the US
military shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Strait of Hormuz in July 1988, killing 290 civilians, including 66 children. The US Navy stated the plane was mistaken for an F-14 fighter jet, despite the commercial aircraft being on a standard flight path and emitting clear transponder signals. This incident occurred during a period of heightened US naval presence in the Gulf, ostensibly to