Open Letter on the Strait of Hormuz Blockade
To Whom It May Concern at CENTCOM: It has been widely reported, including by Al-Monitor, that US President Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This decision was met with a clear statement from Iran's Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who asserted that his country "will not bow" to threats, adding, "If they fight, we will fight, and if they come
forward with logic, we will deal with logic." This is presented as a reactive measure to escalating tensions, yet the implications suggest a more aggressive posture from Washington. Mainstream outlets, including those quoting White House officials, often frame such blockades as necessary defensive actions or responses to alleged Iranian provocations. This framing omits the critical context of an
explicit act of economic warfare, directly targeting Iran's primary export route for oil, which accounts for over 80% of its government revenue. It conveniently bypasses the legality of such a move under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees transit passage through international straits for all vessels. Furthermore, this action
escalates tensions significantly during what are ostensibly periods of diplomatic engagement, however fragile. This aggressive posturing fits a long-standing pattern of economic strangulation intended to destabilize nations that do not align with Washington's dictates. Consider the comprehensive blockade imposed on Cuba for over 60 years, costing the Cuban economy more than $144 billion, or the