An oil tanker navigates the Strait of Hormuz despite threats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Liberian oil tanker set sail from Dubai Strait of Hormuz On Thursday, despite a threat by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard to use a new route near the coast of Oman, encouraged by the UN maritime agency.
The passage of the Stoic Warrior and the threats come as tensions rise between Iran and the United States over the terms of an interim agreement aimed at permanently ending the Iran war.
From ships passing through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf to the future of the future Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpileThe two countries are increasingly discussing the terms of the agreement signed last week.
By signing the memorandum of understanding, the United States and Iran agreed on a 60-day period to resolve these and other details. Until that happens, leaders of both countries will continue to negotiate publicly — during private talks — increasing the risk of derailing the shaky ceasefire in the region.
During a trip to the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday sought to assuage their concerns by speaking to Gulf Arab officials in Bahrain, the island kingdom in the Persian Gulf that hosts the Navy’s 5th Fleet.
The flare-up of clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed militia group Hezbollah in Lebanon threatened the agreement. On Wednesday, Israel carried out an airstrike in southern Lebanon that killed two people, the country’s state news agency said. This was the first Israeli airstrike on Lebanon since the latest ceasefire came into force on Saturday.
Tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz
Signaling that it planned to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the Stoic Warrior set sail early Thursday morning along the coast of the United Arab Emirates and then Oman.
The ship then traveled around Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, fairly close to shore; it was part of the route Oman determined with the International Maritime Organization, a United Nations agency that oversees shipping at sea.
To the north of the route is the Traffic Separation Plan, which is located in the center of the strait and has been the route through which ships have passed freely for decades. The route is used to transport approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas.
However, after the Guard said it had planted mines in the pass during the war that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, there were reports of at least one mine in the water. Mine danger blocked the route.
Even before the agreement, some ships were leaving the strait with US military support. But the UN agency’s efforts are the latest effort to free the stranded ships. Shipping company Maersk said on Thursday that the container ship Maersk Baltimore and another chartered ship also left the strait.
Apparently reacting to the IMO’s new course, the Revolutionary Guard’s naval arm issued an angry warning on Thursday by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.
“A few hours ago, without any notification or coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, some authorities announced a new route in the Strait of Hormuz, which is unacceptable and completely dangerous for ship traffic,” the Guard said. he said.
“It is announced to everyone that the only route allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz is the route declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Iranian force said. he said. “Ship traffic outside these routes is extremely dangerous and prohibited.”
The statement said, “Action will be taken against violators,” without giving details.
There were no immediate reports of any incidents in the strait as the Stoic Warrior passed. According to ship tracking data, several ships were following it.
Anwar Gargash, a senior Emirati diplomat, warned Iran on Thursday against trying to close the strait or impose fees on ships operating in its waters.
“New geopolitical realities cannot be imposed on the Arab Gulf states as a result of a treacherous attack,” Gargash wrote to X. “This sows new seeds of disagreement and conflict for the future. And this is exactly what is true of the Strait of Hormuz.”
Rubio held talks in Bahrain
The US secretary of state met with foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council to try to reassure them that their interests would be protected in any deal with Iran, including the Strait of Hormuz.
“We want to make sure that the interests of our partners and allies in the region are always taken into account in any decisions made throughout this negotiation process,” Rubio said. he said. “There is nothing in this agreement that would undermine the security, prosperity and stability of any of our partners in the Gulf region.”
Gulf Cooperation Council countries have expressed reservations about the limitations of last week’s U.S.-Iran deal, including conflicting claims over the strait and the memorandum’s failure to specifically cover Iran’s nuclear or ballistic missile programs.
Thursday’s meeting in Manama, Bahrain’s capital, took place ahead of an expected meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Iran in Oman to discuss maritime safety and security in the strait.
Speaking on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani thanked the United States for its support and said that “today we see a ray of hope for our region” due to the agreement, but emphasized that Iran must comply with its commitments.
“While this progress is encouraging, it is critical that Iran comply with its obligations,” Al-Zayani said.
Lebanon remains flashpoint
The Israeli army said on Thursday that a reservist was killed and another soldier was wounded in southern Lebanon, where troops occupy parts of the country. At least 37 soldiers, as well as a civil defense contractor, were killed in northern Lebanon or Israel during the conflict. Two civilians were also killed in northern Israel.
More than 4,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli attacks since the Israel-Hezbollah war began in March, two days after the Iran war began and the Lebanese militant group opened fire on Israel.
___
Lee reported from Manama, Bahrain. Associated Press writer Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
