The United States government stated Friday it could “neutralize” the Iranian island of Kharg at any time, a move that comes as tensions remain high over the blocked Strait of Hormuz and rising global oil prices. The announcement marks a significant escalation in rhetoric amid ongoing conflict with Iran.
According to reports, the potential action is being considered to pressure Iran into reopening the vital shipping lane, which has been effectively closed by Tehran. The development underscores growing regional instability and potential disruptions to global energy supplies.
The White House’s statement followed a report by Axios, prompting a response from Press Undersecretary Anna Kelly, who affirmed, “The United States Armed Forces can neutralize the island of Kharg at any moment if the president gives the order.”
A Concession to Iran
In a surprising move, the U.S. Treasury Department as well announced a temporary exemption to sanctions to allow for the sale of Iranian oil currently stranded at sea between March 20 and April 19. “we will leverage Iranian barrels against Tehran to keep the price down even as we continue Operation Epic Fury,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Bessent indicated that Washington intends to quickly bring approximately 140 million barrels of oil to global markets, aiming to stabilize prices and alleviate pressure on the worldwide energy supply. This decision represents the first time the U.S. Has authorized the purchase of Iranian oil since 1996.
“What we have is a huge financial concession from the United States to Iran,” noted Barak Ravid, a global affairs correspondent for Axios. “It’s the first time the United States has bought Iranian oil since 1996. All of this is happening in the midst of a war against Iran.”
“We Are Running Out of Options”
Energy market analyst Brent Erickson believes that the U.S. Efforts to control prices will have limited impact until the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened to all vessels.
“The easing of sanctions raises concerns about the rapid depletion of Washington’s economic tools to curb rising oil prices,” Erickson stated. “If we’ve reached the point of easing sanctions against the country we are at war with, we are really running out of options.”
Questionable Impact
David Tannenbaum, director of the economic sanctions consultancy Blackstone Compliance, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the sanctions relief. “I highly doubt this license will have a significant impact on the price of oil. Instead, it will directly benefit the NIOC [National Iranian Oil Company] and the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps].”
Tannenbaum explained that the NIOC, responsible for all Iranian oil production and owning the Iranian Oil Terminals Company, is “virtually inseparable” from any crude oil-related operations.
“A War Against Itself”
“The U.S. Is financing a war against itself,” asserted Danny Citrinowicz, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel. “What we are seeing is a really flawed campaign, not in terms of its operational magnitude, but in its strategic preparation.”
From a security perspective, Moritz Brake believes the decision “points to an underestimation of Iran’s ability to withstand the attack and the repercussions on the world economy.” “The risks have been underestimated,” he added.
(RT)
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