Shipping companies denounce U.S. as untrustworthy: promised escort, but U.S. military just watches ships get bombed
Some shipowners stranded in the Strait of Hormuz feel they've been misled by the United States.
Recently, Reuters and the UK's Financial Times interviewed representatives from multiple shipping companies and industry insiders, who stated they will no longer accept the U.S.-proposed "Southern Route" for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to these maritime industry figures, the U.S. government previously warned shipping companies not to use the route designated by Iran through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting instead on using the U.S. "Southern Route," while promising that the U.S. Navy would provide escort for cargo ships traversing the strait.
However, the U.S. failed to fulfill its promise. Since July, multiple commercial vessels have come under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, yet the U.S. Navy—supposedly responsible for providing protection—has shown no capability to offer any escort. This has left shipping companies deeply disappointed.
Even more troubling for these shipping companies is the fact that due to U.S. threats to impose sanctions on shipping firms using Iran’s northern route, those registered in the United States now face a dilemma: choosing the U.S. "Southern Route" exposes their vessels to attacks, while opting for Iran’s designated northern route risks U.S. sanctions.
At present, this standoff between the U.S. and Iran shows no sign of ending; both sides believe they have not yet reached their limits. Until a definitive outcome is reached over control and passage rights in the Strait of Hormuz, shipowners caught in the middle will find it nearly impossible to safely navigate the strait—no matter which choice they make, they remain threatened by one side or the other.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870943818444812/
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