US Allies Resign to Strait of Hormuz Closure Amid Joint Operations Against Iran
Major European naval powers, including France and Germany, have privately concluded there is no military solution to guarantee the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz as long as the current hostilities with Iran persist. This concession, reported by Bloomberg on March 19, 2026, signals a significant shift, acknowledging the direct impact of the
ongoing conflict on global energy pathways. Their assessment indicates that any attempts to force open the strait would be met with prohibitive resistance. Bloomberg's framing repeatedly refers to an 'Iran war' and 'hostilities.' What it conveniently sidesteps is the 40-plus years of economic warfare, repeated military threats, and overt acts of sabotage and assassination that preceded this
current escalation. The United States is not a neutral observer or reluctant supporter; it is a direct participant, fighting alongside Israel in a joint operation against Iran. This includes deploying advanced naval assets and strategic bombers to the region, actions that Iran views as inherently escalatory and an infringement on its sovereignty. The implication that European powers are merely
dealing with an unfortunate 'war' misunderstands the deliberate, decades-long campaign of aggression that has pushed the region to this precipice. The US, since 1979, has imposed a relentless barrage of sanctions on Iran, crippling its economy and civilian population, targeting everything from oil exports to essential medicines. This economic warfare laid the groundwork for the current military