New Delhi. After overnight air strikes by the US, Iran on Saturday launched a drone attack targeting Bahrain, while on the other hand a ship was also attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. It is believed that this action has been taken by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in response to the American airstrike. These attacks in the Persian Gulf are an indication that the situation in the Middle East may once again get out of control, while recently an interim agreement was reached between Iran and America towards a final agreement to end the conflict.
The US carried out these air strikes on Thursday in response to the Iranian drone attack on a ship passing through Hormuz. Such continuous attacks have once again exposed the fragile state of the ceasefire between the two countries. Meanwhile, a multinational maritime organization working under the supervision of the US Navy announced on Saturday that the sea route in Hormuz near Oman will be expanded, so that the movement of incoming and outgoing ships can be smooth. This is being seen as a new flash point with Iran.
Iran’s attack on Bahrain is not considered a coincidence. Bahrain is one of Iran’s most vocal critics and is also home to the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. Recently, Bahrain hosted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where the meeting of foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was held. In the meeting, there was a demand to stop Iran’s attacks and keep the Strait of Hormuz completely open.
Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that several Iranian drones were sent targeting the country. The ministry called it an open threat to the safety of citizens and residents. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement issued through state news agency IRNA that it has targeted ‘several bases of the American terrorist army’ in the area. However, he did not reveal the names of the places of attack.
Ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz
The British Army’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said that a tanker was attacked in Hormuz on Saturday. However the crew is safe. At present no one has taken responsibility for the attack, but suspicion is being cast on Iran only. Immediately after the news of the attack on the ship, the Joint Maritime Information Center, which works under the supervision of the US Navy, said that the sea route near the coast of Oman is being expanded, so that the movement of ships can happen in both directions.
Iran has already said that ships must follow its instructions and has warned that it may start collecting fees from ships passing through Hormuz. About one-fifth of the world’s total oil and natural gas passes through this route. America and Gulf countries have rejected this demand of Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is considered an international waterway throughout the world, although it falls within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman. The Joint Maritime Information Center warned in its statement that there remains a very serious threat to ships in this area.
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