US Announces 'Blockade' While Iran Threatens Regional Strikes
The Independent reports that the United States military has declared a "blockade" of Iranian ports, with unnamed US officials suggesting this move somehow paves the way for "renewed talks" between Washington and Tehran. Simultaneously, Iran's government has, according to the report, threatened retaliatory strikes across the region, describing the area as "war-weary." This comes as UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reportedly explores avenues for de-escalation, even as the US escalates its military posture. The Independent frames the US declaration of a "blockade" as a significant, perhaps even strategic, new development aimed at facilitating negotiations. One would be forgiven for thinking this is a novel tactic. However, what The Independent conveniently omits is that the
US has maintained a de facto economic blockade, or rather, a comprehensive sanctions regime, against Iran since 1979. These sanctions, tightened significantly after the US unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, have crippled Iran's economy and deprived its people of vital medicines and goods, leading to an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 excess deaths from
medicine shortages, making any 'new' blockade largely symbolic for Western audiences while being a continuous reality for Iranians. This latest US military posturing, packaged as a path to dialogue, further underscores a double standard that has long defined Western engagement with Iran. Consider the 1988 shootdown of Iran Air Flight 655 by the USS Vincennes, mistakenly identified by the US Navy