Too late maybe
talking about Hormuz, but I think learning about this strait will bring us in a
never ending conflict. Situated between
the gulf of Oman in the southeast and Persian Gulf, this strategic strait is
very important in international oil transportation lines. Roughly, about 20%
world’s oil passes the strait. No wonder if military clashes frequently occur
in this area.
On 18 April 1988, naval
forces attack from US to Iranian water in retaliation to Iranian mining in
Iraq-Iran war caused American warship damaged. This is dubbed as Operation
Praying Mantis.
On 3 July 1988, United States
Navy guided
missile cruiser USS Vincennes (CG-49) shot down a civilian jet airliner an Airbus A300B2-203 operated by Iran Air, on the Bandar Abbas-Dubai route. The strike toward the
end of Iraq-Iran war resulted in dead all passengers and crew abroad. There were
290 killing including 66 children and 38 foreigners.
On 10 January 2007, collision between American
nuclear-powered submarine, USS Newport News and Japanese oil tanker Mogamigawa
happened in the strait. No injuries and oil
leak.
The never ending
disputed between Iran and America
pursued in 2007-2008, where five Iran’s boats patrol surrounding three US navy
warship the cruiser USS Port Royal, the destroyer USS Hopper and the frigate USSIngraham.
On 29 June 2008, the US-Iran contention
still continued. Iran threaten, it would seal off the Hormuz Strait if Israel
and US attacked Iran, thereby global oil prices skyrocketing, the statement
came from the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Ali Muhammad Jafari. In
contrary response, the commander of US 5th Fled stationed in Bahrain, Vice
Admiral Kevin Cosgrave stated, such action will be trigger war, and US would
halt the hostage of world’s oil supply.
In July 2008, US-UK-France
and Brazilian frigate held joint military drill in the eastern US coast, Atlantic
to exercise blockading Iran’s coast in the Strait of Hormuz.
The recent tension between Iran and western
countries is due to the
allegation of Iran nuclear weapons development. IAEA claimed that Iran in
advance of developing warhead assisted by Soviet scientists. As the result UN imposed sanction
to the Iranian economy. United State will give sanction to the Iranian company
which backs the Iran nuclear activity,
EU agreed of banning Iran oil importation, also trade in gold, precious metals, diamonds and petrochemical products from Iran.
EU is also freezing Iran’s central bank assets in Europe.
Israel pushed US to attack Iran, but US still offering Iran
to open dialogue. Iran’s president, Ahmadinejad denied the accusation of
developing nuclear weapons, all Iran nuclear activity for piece purpose. Iran
not allowed the IAEA observer to investigate important nuclear location in Parchin, south of the Iranian capital,
Tehran. In response of UN sanctions Iran will stop all the oil importation
to EU countries as retaliation, and again, it will close the Strait of Hormuz. Iran
also tested fires long range missiles in naval exercise in January 2012 in the strait.
Now, the effect of the tensions in the Hormuz Strait has been perceived
by countries in the world including my country, Indonesia. Yes, actually the prediction
oil price in my country will rise, mass demonstration held in some of town in
country to deter the government policy in deciding cut off the oil subsidies.
In the end, I hope the both Us-ally and Iran will understand
that oil price is one of sensitive issue in the world, don’t be egoism.
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