Washington/Tel Aviv/Tehran. The chances of the ongoing conflict over the Strait of Hormuz taking a severe form have increased. After the unified military action taken by America and Israel against Iran on February 28, now both the countries are preparing to carry out even more powerful bombings. This time America and Israel have prepared a maze to destroy Iran’s energy infrastructure. Iran has warned that if this happens, this war will spread beyond the Gulf. His soldiers will not fail to enter and attack the enemy’s house. The Israeli Army has increased its defensive preparedness to counter Iran’s aggression.
All this has been mentioned in detailed reports by CBS News, Axios, Ynet and Al Jazeera. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is worried about the current situation. He spoke to US President Donald Trump on Saturday and warned him against launching fresh attacks on Iran. On the other hand, American embassies have asked American citizens living in many capitals of the Middle East including Amman (Jordan), Jerusalem and Baghdad to be ready to leave.
Earlier on Friday, President Trump said in the cabinet meeting that America will not back down. Iran will have to bow down. He reiterated that wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Korea also lasted for a long time. Sources claim that attacks against Iran may begin this weekend. Amidst the military preparations of America and Israel, Iranian MP and member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Ibrahim Rezai, has warned that Iran’s army is ready to give a strong response to any American attack. This time the answer will not be limited to the Persian Gulf. All enemy positions will be attacked. The oil and gas facilities in the Gulf will be destroyed.
He said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump should not have any misunderstanding. Trump’s threat to send Iran to the Stone Age has gone viral. Even Iran’s hair is not spoiled. The morale of the Iranian army is high. Iran has contacted mediating countries on the current situation. Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi on Saturday spoke to senior officials of Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. He asked these countries to tell America that the consequences would be very bad.
Amid the clouds of war looming in the Strait of Hormuz, the British Navy said that a commercial tanker was attacked in this international waterway on Saturday. The second tanker was targeted, but did not suffer much damage. Loud blasts were made near both of them. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization said an unidentified projectile hit the ship 11 nautical miles north-east of Lima, Oman on Friday. The ship’s engine room was damaged by this attack. On Saturday, rapid movement (splash) and explosion in water was reported near another tanker. The tanker was 21 nautical miles north-west of Khasab city. According to another report, crude oil is leaking from a restricted tanker stuck off the coast of Oman.
The stance of Yemen’s pro-Iranian Houthi rebels has softened somewhat. Houthi rebels have vehemently rejected accusations of collecting tolls in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. On Wednesday, Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar al-Eriani accused the Houthis of moving towards collecting tolls like Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, located on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula. Houthi said no tolls were being collected from any ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait. It may be noted that last month the Houthis had announced a maritime blockade only of Saudi-flagged ships.
Mohammad Bagheri Zolghadra, Secretary General of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said that if the US attacks again, Tehran will further tighten the blockade in Hormuz. Other waterways will also be closed. It is noteworthy that immediately after the attack on February 28, Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz. About 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas once passed through this waterway.