As the US and Iran just sat at the negotiation table, Iran suddenly closed the strait, pushing oil prices up by 2%, striking the most painful point in the US-Iran game!
On February 17, the US-Iran negotiations in Geneva began, while Iran simultaneously established a no-sailing zone in the Strait of Hormuz and conducted live-fire exercises. Within just a few hours, this action pushed oil prices up nearly 2%. Iran is willing to dilute highly enriched uranium and offer economic cooperation as an enticement, but it firmly holds its red line on ballistic missiles. The US has deployed two aircraft carriers and F-35s for pressure, setting a one-month negotiation deadline. Israel's core concerns have been sidelined, with worries that Iran's economic recovery and missile threats still remain. This round of talks and conflicts in the Middle East are making people anxious!
[Clever] This "handshake at the table, sword drawn at the strait" between the US and Iran has taken great power games to their peak! The Strait of Hormuz carries over 20% of global oil transportation. Iran's several-hour naval blockade was enough to move oil prices, with more precise deterrence than during the Gulf crisis years ago. After the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the US repeatedly withdrew from the agreement. Now, Iran offers reversible concessions through uranium enrichment, but remains firm on the missile issue, clearly indicating "to loosen the restrictions, not to surrender." Trump calculates economic costs, while Israel calculates security costs; the Middle East has never been black or white. In the short term, the negotiations are unlikely to break the deadlock. In the long run, the strait, as an energy key, remains Iran's strongest card, directly affecting global oil prices and our wallets!
Original: toutiao.com/article/1857458601472067/
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