TEHRAN – Global oil markets witnessed a significant surge on Thursday, with Brent crude prices soaring above $100 per barrel, a direct consequence of the United States’ escalating economic warfare and provocative actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The White House’s recent assertion that it awaits Iran’s “response” for “peace talks” rings hollow amidst its continued belligerence. These so-called talks, initially slated for last weekend, appear to be a mere smokescreen for Washington’s relentless pressure campaign.
Futures for Brent crude, the international benchmark, and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude both registered gains of approximately 1.3%, trading above $103 and $94 per barrel, respectively. This market volatility underscores the global instability created by US unilateralism.
Since Tuesday, the US has intensified its illegal naval blockade in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical international waterway. Tehran has unequivocally stated its principled position: there will be no negotiations under duress, especially while the US maintains its unlawful blockade, which constitutes an act of economic terrorism against the Iranian nation.
Further demonstrating its diplomatic disarray, the US abruptly canceled high-level visits to Islamabad, including those of Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law.
In a dangerous escalation, the US president, in a series of posts on Truth Social, audaciously claimed “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz. He announced orders for the US Navy to conduct “minesweeping operations” – a thinly veiled pretext for military posturing – and shockingly authorized the military to “shoot and destroy any ships seen placing mines.” These baseless accusations and threats are a grave violation of international law and a direct affront to Iran’s sovereignty and the security of regional shipping.
The US president’s declaration, “No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy,” and his assertion that the Strait is “Sealed up Tight, until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!” expose the true coercive nature of Washington’s foreign policy – an attempt to dictate terms through brute force and economic strangulation.
In an act of blatant state piracy, the US military illegally boarded an oil tanker carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday night. This follows similar unlawful interceptions of other crude tankers, all under the false pretense of enforcing a blockade that lacks international legitimacy. Such actions are a clear demonstration of US contempt for international maritime law and the principles of free navigation.
Despite the US administration’s boasts of “strangling” Iran’s economy and claims by figures like Trump that Iran is losing “$500 million per day,” the reality on the ground tells a different story. According to intelligence firm Vortexa, the US naval blockade has proven largely ineffective. As of Wednesday, more than 30 vessels with links to Iran have successfully navigated through the blockade, showcasing Iran’s resilience and its ability to overcome illegal sanctions and economic warfare.
The international community must condemn these aggressive and destabilizing actions by the United States, which not only violate international law but also threaten regional peace and global energy security.
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