In international law, Tehran has every right to close the strait of Hormuz to nations with which it is in armed conflict. Two vital points:
1) States who permit attacks on Iran to be launched from their territory can be blocked
2) Iran can block neutral ships from trading with states with which it is in conflict.
Plainly UK ships can be blocked under 1). But it is also undeniable that Gulf states have permitted attacks to be launched from their territory. A-10 Warthog attack jets have been routinely used against Iranian ships and were used in the extraordinary operation at the weekend involving special forces on the ground in Iran.
(If you believe that was a pilot rescue I have a bridge to sell you).
Multiple types of helicopter have also been used. The 5th fleet having run away well into the Indian ocean, these short-range aircraft can only be operating out of the Gulf states.
HIMARS short-range missiles were also used against Kharg Island – again this has to be from the Gulf states.
Iran has the right therefore to close the Strait of Hormuz to ships trading with those Gulf States that are hosting US forces attacking Iran. Which effectively means an almost complete closure of the straits.
The remaining legal obligation – from Article 34 of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea – is to allow free passage to neutral vessels which are not trading with states with which Iran is in armed conflict. That is not likely to be a large number of vessels.
A week ago I participated in a discussion on Al Jazeera in which I was able to make some of these points. I also pointed out the hypocrisy of the Western powers’ sudden interest in freedom of navigation, when they have been supporting or ignoring illegal blockades of Gaza, Cuba and Venezuela, and illegal action against the misnamed “Russian shadow fleet”.
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Never mind Palantir’s huge contracts – given to them by the Westminster government for a minute.
The same government has signed a £880 million pounds contract with Boeing on armaments, I’d imagine some big backhanders found their way into certain parties pockets – as the price of everything goes through the roof.
“The same government has signed a £880 million pounds contract with Boeing on armaments”
That’s just tribute to Britain’s imperial masters.
Best wishes to Craig, for a quick and complete recovery.
Meanwhile, anyone wondering why CankleMan has turned on Meloni this week may find the answer here:
https://www.politico.eu/article/italy-halts-renewal-defense-pact-israel/
“….Meloni told reporters her government “has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel in consideration of the current situation.”
The 2003 deal concerns the exchange of military material and technological research between the two armed forces and automatically renews every 5 years. Human rights lawyers have urged Italy to end the agreement, citing legal and ethical concerns over Israel’s strikes in Gaza.”
Wonder if Starmer’s planning something similar? Only joking.
As this is a West Asia thread I will post this haiku. However best wishes to Mr Murray first. Safe recovery and future journeys. Best wishes.
Spring carpet bombing,
Planting seeds of resistance-
Lebanon’s orchards.
Watching BBC 2’s Newsnight and all the political guests, even those against Trump’s war, agreed: Iran’s is horrible, horrible regime, terrible for women.
But how true is that?
After 2022’s protests, the compulsory hijab law was lifted, which saw dress code rules relaxed. Now 30-40% of women in Tehran are now observed walking without headscarves.
But here is the real kicker :
Iran produces approximately 330,000 STEM graduates annually. Approximately 70% of these science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graduates are women. That’s ~231,000.
The UK produces 191,000 core-STEM graduates annually, of whom about 30% (~58,755) are women.
Ah, some would say, but Iran’s population is 93 million to the UK’s 69 million = 1.347 x 58,755 = 79,191 (adjusted) vs 231,000 on a population like for like basis.
If it’s such a terrible regime for women, as we are repeatedly told. Why are they doing so much better in educational terms than the UK? And I haven’t checked the figures, but I’d wager it’s the same for US, CAN, AUS and NZ too.