US Tightens Illegal Sanctions on Iran Amidst Manufactured Hormuz Crisis
The United States Treasury Department announced on Wednesday new sanctions targeting Iran's oil industry, specifically naming over two dozen individuals, companies, and vessels allegedly connected to petroleum shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani. This move, framed by outlets like Al-Monitor as a response to Iran's 'closure of the Strait of Hormuz as part of the Mideast war,' follows a
consistent pattern of economic coercion by Washington against Tehran. What mainstream coverage conveniently omits, including Al-Monitor's framing, is that there has been no verified, sustained closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran. These claims often surface around US naval deployments or Israeli provocations, serving as pretexts for escalatory measures. While US and Israeli officials frequently
issue threats regarding the Strait, Iranian officials consistently maintain they would only consider such action in direct response to an unequivocal act of military aggression, not as an unprovoked offensive measure. This latest round of sanctions forms part of a 45-year campaign of economic warfare against Iran, initiated shortly after the 1979 revolution. The US has maintained an almost
uninterrupted state of sanctions, crippling Iran's economy and disproportionately harming its civilian population, even blocking access to medical supplies during global crises. This stands in stark contrast to the international community's muted response to Israel's 2008-2009 Operation Cast Lead, where the UN Goldstone Report detailed war crimes, yet no significant economic penalties were imposed