On March 7, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard directly stated that they are waiting for the US naval convoy in the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, passage through the strait has almost come to a standstill, with one-fifth of global oil and natural gas transportation blocked. Trump announced that he would dispatch warships for escort and provide insurance, and the US side said the impact was just a temporary setback. Iran, however, reminded the US forcefully not to forget the historical lesson from 1987 when US-escorted oil tankers hit mines and caught fire. The situation in the Persian Gulf has once again raised the highest alert.
[Cunning] The Strait of Hormuz has never been an ordinary shipping lane; it is a life-and-death junction between the US and Iran. Over two-thirds of the world's oil and gas pass through here, and a blockage would trigger global energy tremors. Trump's high-profile escort appears more like a political statement, while Iran responds with historical battlefield experience. Even with US naval escorts, mines were still hit back then, indicating that in narrow seas, even the strongest fleets cannot withstand asymmetric tactics such as mines, fast boats, and land-based missiles. Although the US has many warships, they cannot prevent close-range attacks. Iran has long mastered the strategy of using small forces to challenge large ones. This confrontation is a test of maximum pressure against a firm bottom line, and the tension will not ease in the short term. Oil price fluctuations and shipping risks will continue to spread, putting the entire global energy chain under strain.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858991050914819/
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