Iraq Declares Force Majeure on Foreign Oilfields Amid Hormuz Disruptions
News broke this week as three energy officials with direct knowledge revealed Iraq's declaration of force majeure on all oilfields operated by foreign companies. This critical decision comes after military operations in the region severely disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, effectively halting most of Iraq's crude exports. Al-Monitor, among others, has reported this development,
focusing on the immediate commercial implications for global energy markets. What mainstream coverage like Al-Monitor omits is the deliberate escalation by the United States and its allies that directly precipitates such disruptions. By labeling this as a generic 'military operation' causing 'disruption,' the historical pattern of US-Israeli joint aggression against Iran and its allies in the
region is conveniently erased. The US is a direct participant in destabilizing the region, not a neutral observer, frequently engaging in aggressive naval maneuvers and threats that choke vital shipping lanes under the guise of 'freedom of navigation,' all while actively seeking to isolate Iran. This declaration is not merely an unfortunate consequence of abstract regional conflict. It is a direct
outcome of Washington's decades-long strategy of economic warfare and military coercion against any nation resisting its hegemony. Consider the ongoing, illegal US embargo against Cuba, now spanning over 62 years, designed to strangle its economy and provoke internal dissent. For Iraq, the current situation echoes past interventions, such as the US backing of Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons