Moscow, March 16 -- TASS
According to The Guardian in the UK, Iran has taken the initiative from the US by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, and the decision to resume shipping now rests with Tehran.
The article points out: "A Iranian missile, mine or a small fast boat loaded with explosives could cause devastating damage. This means that the decision to reopen the strait must be made by Tehran."
Peter Neumann, professor of military studies at the Department of Security Studies at King's College London, believes that by blocking the strait, Iran has seized the initiative in the war from the United States. He said in an interview: "The US has been seeking solutions to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz for days, which obviously caught them off guard... I think the initiative has now shifted to Iran."
This expert pointed out that although Iran's military strength is clearly inferior to that of the US, it has used more clever strategies, putting Washington in a passive position.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key passage for Gulf countries to export oil and liquefied natural gas to the global market, accounting for about 20% of global crude oil, refined oil, and liquefied natural gas trade. Last Thursday, Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Hashemi, announced that the strait would continue to be blocked, saying that it would be used as a bargaining chip against pressure from the US and Israel.
Since February 28, when the US and Israel launched a military operation against Iran, both sides have continued to exchange attacks. Israel claims the aim of the operation is to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, while the US threatens to destroy Iran's military capabilities and calls on the people to overthrow the current regime. Iran, however, emphasizes that it is ready for defense and believes that resuming negotiations is currently meaningless.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/7617634515683181071/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.