The Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz under Iranian control, warns Iranian navy chief

Tehran: Iran has declared complete control over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, the passage for about a third of the entire crude movement in the world. The Iranian navy chief threatened the United States, United Kingdom and France, that the presence of the foreign warships will not be tolerated in the region. The international crude oil market was under stress for some period after the Iranian announcement. But Saudi Arabia and US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo announced that the region was not under the Iranian control. This reduced the restlessness in the international crude Market, claim analysts.

Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the chief of the naval wing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, claimed that the entire Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz were entirely under Iranian rule, while talking to a local news agency. Claiming a total domination of the marine region, Admiral Tangsiri opposed the naval deployment of the United States and allies’ navies. ‘Iran is willing to take the responsibility of security of the Persian Gulf. Therefore, the navies of the United States and western countries- not connected to this region need not be deployed there.’ said the Iranian naval chief.

The Iranian naval chief raised questions about the deployment of the fifth fleet of the US Navy. The enemies of Iran have deployed their warships in the Persian Gulf, portraying a wrong picture. At the same time, based on this false propaganda, the anti-Iran groups are supplying arms to the Gulf countries, blamed Tangsiri. Admiral Tangsiri alleged that the US nuclear warships are endangering the environment in the Persian Gulf. This is not only a threat to Iran, but also a serious concern for all the Arab countries in the area.

The international crude oil market came under stress, because of these claims by f the Iranian navy chief. Moreover, the fear was that if Iran gains control over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, it will cease the passing of oil through the Gulf. The Iranian leaders and military officials had also issued threats about this. The Iranian leaders had said that if the United States tried to throttle Iran with sanctions, it will close this transport route. At the same time, the Iranian navy had deployed more than 100 warships in the Gulf and conducted huge war exercises. This was but a warning that Iran’s threat was a serious matter.

Nearly, 20 million barrels of crude passes through the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz every day. This oil is mainly for the United States, European countries and the south-east Asian countries including China. In view of this, the international crude market had become restless after the Iranian naval chief’s announcement. But the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo repudiated the Iranian claim. The US Secretary of State asserted that Iran is not in control of the Persian Gulf. Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz are a part of the international waters and Iran cannot claim rights over them, said Secretary of State Pompeo.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia too objected the claims made by the Iranian naval chief- Iran has control over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia warned that if Iran commits the mistake of closing this region, the United Nations Security Council will order a military action against Iran.