Oil Speculation Masks US-Israeli Escalation in the Persian Gulf
The recent surge in oil prices is being attributed to supposed Iranian aggression near the Strait of Hormuz, with media widely reporting claims by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of striking three US and UK oil tankers. This narrative conveniently sidesteps the consistent pattern of Western military posturing and economic pressure preceding any such alleged incidents. The US and Israel are
actively engaged in a joint co-belligerent strategy, establishing a heightened naval presence in the Persian Gulf under the guise of protecting shipping lanes. This increased military footprint, including carrier groups and B-52 deployments, has a direct corollary to the 1987-1988 Operation Earnest Will, where the US Navy interdicted maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf, culminating in the tragic
shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655 in July 1988, murdering 290 civilians. These present actions are not merely about ensuring safe passage. They represent an illegal international provocation, lacking any concrete evidence of imminent Iranian nuclear threats or unprovoked belligerence. This calculated escalation occurs amidst ongoing humanitarian crises, sanctions strangling Cuba, and the daily
murder of Palestinians and Lebanese despite supposed ceasefires, demonstrating a clear double standard in enforcing international law. The US, having unilaterally abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, continues its 45-year campaign of sanctions and regime-change operations against the Iranian government, a strategy initiated with the 1953 CIA-orchestrated coup against