Iran offers Hormuz access to countries that expel US, Israeli envoys

WEB DESK: In a move that has sent fresh tremors through global energy markets, Iran’s elite military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has issued a striking ultimatum to the international community. The organisation announced that any European or Arab state willing to expel the ambassadors of the United States and Israel would be granted what it described as “unfettered access” through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

According to Maritime News, the declaration, which reportedly came into effect on Tuesday, appears designed to fracture the diplomatic coalition currently backing military operations against Iranian infrastructure. By exploiting its influence over one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, Tehran is effectively attempting to exchange energy security for diplomatic isolation of its adversaries.

A strait under siege

The Strait of Hormuz through which roughly a fifth of the world’s daily oil consumption flows has rapidly become the focal point of the present crisis. Following a week of intensive air strikes by the United States and Israel, the IRGC has responded with what it calls a “zero-export” strategy aimed at preventing energy shipments to countries deemed hostile.

An IRGC spokesperson declared on state television that “not a single drop of crude will leave the Gulf for hostile powers”. The policy seeks to divide the international community by offering a so-called safe corridor to nations willing to distance themselves from Washington and Tel Aviv, while maintaining a de facto blockade against those that refuse.

The impact on the West

In Britain and across Europe, the announcement has intensified an already delicate political and economic dilemma. With fuel prices in the UK reportedly rising at petrol stations this morning, pressure on the government in 10 Downing Street is mounting.

Nevertheless, officials have swiftly rejected Tehran’s proposal. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office stated that freedom of navigation remains a fundamental principle of international law and insisted that the United Kingdom would not allow its diplomatic relations to be dictated by threats to global commerce.

On the water, however, conditions remain volatile. London-based maritime insurers have reportedly classified the Strait as a total exclusion zone, making it extremely difficult for vessels of any nationality to secure the coverage required for transit.

Meanwhile, naval forces from the Royal Navy and the United States Navy continue to patrol the area, resulting in several tense encounters with Iranian fast-attack craft. At the same time, dozens of liquefied natural gas tankers remain anchored in the Gulf of Oman, reluctant to risk passage under the shadow of Iranian missile batteries.