Strait of Hormuz and the Accusation of "Blackmail"

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani warned that Iran "must not use this strait as a weapon for pressure or to blackmail the Gulf states." However, let us examine what has been overlooked:

The Sequence Everyone Ignores:

1. February 28: The U.S. and Israel launch strikes on Iranian territory.

2. Following this: Washington imposes a naval blockade on all ships serving Iranian ports.

3. Iran Responds: By imposing controls on the Strait.

4. The Result: Iran is accused of "blackmail."

The Numbers:

• OPEC Production: 20.04 million barrels per day — the lowest in 26 years.

• Tanker Traffic: Collapsed from 45-50 tankers daily to fewer than 20.

• U.S. Warships: 15 naval assets and over 10,000 troops have been enforcing a naval blockade since April 13.

• IEA Emergency Release: 400 million barrels — the largest in history.

What Qatar Did Not Mention:

The U.S. blockade "applies to all vessels, regardless of nationality, entering or leaving Iranian ports" — General Dan Cain.

He also stated that U.S. forces "will actively pursue any ship flying the Iranian flag" — globally, not just in the Gulf.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament: "Others cannot pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot."

The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister clarified that any text regarding Hormuz that "does not mention aggression, the blockade, and Iran’s legitimate rights... is an incomplete, biased, and politicized text, doomed to failure from the start."

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also countered that any text regarding Hormuz that "does not mention aggression, the blockade, and Iran’s legitimate rights... is an incomplete and biased text doomed to failure."

A Question for Readers:

If your country were subjected to military strikes, economic strangulation, and a naval cordone, and it responded by utilizing its geographical position, who exactly is the "blackmailer"?

A Question for Gulf Capitals:

Why is Iranian sovereignty expendable in your strategic calculations? When U.S. battleships roam the Gulf to enforce a blockade on your neighbor, you speak of "international law," but when Iran imposes reciprocal measures, the terminology shifts to "blackmail." Is neutrality truly neutral when your airspace and bases facilitate one side of the war?

The principle of freedom of navigation is either universal or a selective tool. Where was the unified Gulf voice during the years-long blockade of Yemen?

Peace begins by confronting root causes — not selective condemnation.

The Axis of Resistance has proven that the era of asymmetric impunity is over. The Strait is not a bargaining chip — it is evidence that the oppressed possess the tools to deter the oppressor.

#Axis_of_Resistance #Strait_of_Hormuz #Iranian_Sovereignty #No_To_Hypocrisy #Gulf_Security

#AlMuraqeb