ERBIL () - The United States has intercepted and targeted the crews of 85 percent of Iran's tankers and warships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington and the Treasury Secretary declaring no exceptions will be made and that Iranian tankers will continue to be held accountable for all violations, as hawakas reported on Friday.
On Friday Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the coercive pressure on Iran and said in a press statement: "We are targeting 85 percent of their tankers."He described Iran's crews as hostage takers and said that regarding the Strait of Hormuz, it took two weeks of consecutive operations for America to take complete control. He said: "As a result of these operations in the last two weeks at sea, 140 billion dollars' worth of oil has been transported safely, page by page."
In a separate part of his remarks, Bessent said Iran has become a successful example for the Treasury to point to, and that because of the Congress's G20 stance, China joined the statement targeting Iranian assets, saying the message to all violating countries is clear.
Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, said in a statement that Iran's approach toward America is: "America's geostrategic position in the Middle East toward Iran has gone from wanting to contain Iran, to trying to normalize relations with its neighbors, to wanting to dismantle the regime entirely, and today we have reached a new phase of pressure and sanctions."
Iran's foreign ministry announced that this week, a meeting of the Gulf and Sea of Oman coastal states will be held in Oman with the participation of Iran, Iraq, and other coastal nations to discuss the outcomes of the Iran-Oman negotiations on designating a safe shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement came with a warning: as long as the US naval blockade and economic war continue, maritime security in the strait cannot be fully guaranteed.
On Friday Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told reporters that the Monday meeting in Oman will include the coastal states of the Gulf and Sea of Oman, with Iran, Iraq, and other coastal nations attending. Alongside regional topics, the meeting will cover the results of Iran-Oman negotiations on designating a safe corridor for commercial maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's foreign ministry described organizing the meeting as an important step toward strengthening confidence and cooperation among regional countries with the aim of consolidating peace and stability, away from external interference. Iran expressed hope the meeting would raise the level of mutual understanding and shared security among participating states.
In another part of his remarks regarding the Iran-Oman agreement on a temporary shipping corridor, Baghaei reaffirmed that Iran is committed to working toward maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, but warned: "as long as the illegal aggressive and interventionist actions of the United States, including the naval blockade and economic war, continue, maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed."
