Months of mounting tensions between Iran and the West have centered on
tit-for-tat measures and official statements. Everyone says they don’t
want the situation to worsen, then something else happens, and it
worsens.
Starting with non-distinct US allegations about Iran doing something,
the situation is now increasingly about oil tankers. At the start of
July, British Marines captured Iran’s Grace 1 tanker, full of oil..
Britain accused the tanker of going to Syria, saying it would violate
the US ban on Iran selling oil, and the EU ban on Syria buying oil.
Iran had been demanding the ship’s release, and after a couple of weeks
of that going nowhere, Iran captured a British-flagged tanker late last
week. Iranian officials say it was a “reciprocal” move, and that the
British ship broke maritime rules.
But that still leaves both Iran and the UK at odds with one another, and
both waiting to see who moves never, and what they’ll do in response. British officials are expected to announce some response on Monday, but over the weekend have been mum on what that looks like.
That likely reflects concerns about making missteps and making things
even worse. Iran seems quite aware of that, and their UK envoy warned
Britain to avoid further escalation, while saying Iran remains “ready for any scenario.”
British officials have emphasized their readiness too, but once again
don’t seem to be sure what they’re readying for, or even whether they’re
readying to act against Iran, or react if Iran does something else.
As far as it goes, the expectation on both sides is whatever is coming,
warnings aside, will be even worse. US officials see to be quite
comfortable with the situation continuing to spiral as well, as
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says he sees no reason to think Iran will choose the path of a “normal nation.” Pompeo has been leading the US march to escalate with Iran for months, and is seen as a major advocate of war.
Please do not equate the UK puppet and the “exceptional” lawless USA with “the West”; Iran is in the right, and most of us know that, but of course the USA/UK refuse to be reasonable.
We need to see more people in the west in the streets, carrying Iranian flags in solidarity.
Pompeo as Secretary of State is a farce, he has no diplomatic skill, acts more like a bully….together with his gang buddy Bolton.
add esteemed Sen. Cotton to the list.
He’s scary.
Agree.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Jim. Pompous Pompeo’s truly a farce .. He has no diplomatic skills whatsoever and acts like a bully. He did better as CIA Director, wherein little or no diplomatic skills are required. DJT should’ve left him at that post and chose someone with diplomatic skills as Secretary of State instead.
As for Bonkers Bolton, DJT should’ve never picked him for Nat. Security Adviser. Period. He’s no adviser, he’s a handler who’s a total lunatic .. He’s been that way for decades. He should’ve never accepted Michael Flynn’s resignation .. He would’ve never gotten us into this mess with Flynn at the helm. Of the Nat. Security Advisers he had, Gen. Flynn was the best. How could he be so stupid as to let him go?
“How could he be so stupid as to let him go?” That’s a good one.
I agree with you up to the part about Gen. Flynn. I understand that the FBI/CIA had taped his conversations with the Russians. I want to hear those taped conversations that Flynn had. But we won’t get that information because it is politically incorrect and will be withheld as “classified” information.
One of the things he met with the Russians about was to try and talk them into vetoing the UN resolution condemning Israel. The one Obama abstained on. The Russians declined.
Yes, I know. I read Phil Giraldi’s article on this a long time ago. Mueller wouldn’t go there because it is politically in correct.
The problem with most politician is, they don`t serve the people….but the elite, the corporations and the deep state.
Down with poodle Britain. Go, Team Iran!
Jesus loves Iran and Iran loves Hazrat Isa.
I’m against US/UK aggression in the region too but that’s a far cry from supporting the other side.
A hundred years ago Great Britain was a queen (or rather empress) today she is a pawn. But that is the fate of all empires. The growing complexity of the crisis makes it more likely to spiral out of control. Those confident of victory should look to history – the warnings are there.
https://www.ghostsofhistory.wordpress.com/
“Nations and empires flourish and decay, By turns command, and in their turns obey.” — Ovid, roman poet
So true, so beautifully worded.
Who cares what the former uber colonial power and the current uber empire think?
“Britain accused the tanker of going to Syria, saying it would violate the US ban on Iran selling oil, and the EU ban on Syria buying oil.”
So we would have no “tensions worsen” if Iran and Syria were allowed to act like sovereign countries and have an economy or heat their homes. Seems like there is a simple solution. Maybe we can get some fourth grader to point that out to Pompeo.
“British officials are expected to announce some response on Monday, but over the weekend have been mum on what that looks like.”
They are waiting for the US to tell them what that response might be.
The proper response would be to return Iran’s ship, withdraw from the Persian Gulf, sign a non-aggression pact with Iran, and embargo the US including stop trading in the dollar until the US learns to behave like a normal nation.
If Britain moves to escalate the situation – which is highly likely – it will be more proof that the goal is to be – eventually – a naval blockade of Iran – an act of war which will start the Iran war as Iran will then close the Straits. And contrary to Colonel Pat Lang’s fantasy that the US Navy can reopen the Straits, they will stay closed until the war is over – roughly thirty years from now if not longer.
as Iran captures more hostages, CIA this time…
“hostages” doesn’t seem apt though. More like invaders or even pow’s.
If Carter had handed over the pos Shah, we wouldn’t be going thru this crap today.
they should both sit around the negotiating table and talk……
they’ve gone tit for tat and if it goes much further, things may or will get out of control
no matter who thinks they are right, and both probably do, they need to be talking more and acting out less. immature adults, especially in the UK will make this worse…. (I bet Hunt and May both wish they had never seized that tanker at Gibraltar, the damned fools and poodles)
or maybe not
FYI
Admiral Lord West, former head of UK navy:
‘Powerful groups in Israel, Saudi Arabia and the US want war and think a
strike on Iran would lead to regime change. They are wrong. It would
lead to open ended war with catastrophic consequences across the globe‘
quite right, dear old chap