*We’ll Strike Any US Naval Vessel Approaching Strait, Iran Warns
*Attack American Ships And Be ‘Blown Off Face Of The Earth’ -Trump
*Renewed War May See Nigeria Petrol Prices Skyrocket Further
Bellicose talk between warring United States (US) and Iran, which had noticeably toned down over the past few weeks as efforts were made to craft a ceasefire, erupted once again yesterday between the belligerents over control of the vital Strait of Hormuz, near Iran.
About a fifth of global oil shipping transits through the Strait, which Iran has blocked to vessels of nations it deems as pro-US, Washington’s Arab Gulf allies, or friendly to Israel.
The crisis in the Strait has jerked up oil prices across the world, with a litre of petrol going for as high as about N1400 in some filling stations in Nigeria -a development that has worsened the already dire cost-of-living crisis in the West African oil-producing giant whose government, on 29 May, 2023, yanked off fuel subsidies without warning.
A fresh renewal of hostilities between the US and Iran could see petrol price hit as high as N2000 a litre, with mass consequences as yet unknown.
Yesterday, US President Donald Trump threatened that Iran will be “blown off the face of the earth” if it attacks his country’s vessels trying to reopen a route through the Strait.
The President’s comments came as the US launched an operation – Project Freedom – on Monday to help hundreds of ships trapped with their crews in the Gulf, dragging the region back to the brink of full-scale war.
Tehran sought to reassert its blockade on the Strait, while the US military claimed to have destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted both Iranian cruise missiles and drones –a claim denied by Tehran.
Earlier, Iran’s military central command had warned that it would strike any US naval vessel approaching the Strait, and claimed to have struck a US frigate in the area with two missiles.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied that claim, saying that no US Navy ships had been struck and that US forces were continuing to enforce the naval blockade on Iranian ports.
CENTCOM added that two US-flagged merchant vessels crossed through the Strait yesterday as US Navy guided-missile destroyers operate in the Gulf.
Shipping multinational Maersk later said that one of its US-flagged commercial vessels had successfully exited the sytrait under US military protection.
Iran Braced For Any Scenario In Strait, Says Military Source
Speaking to the pro-Iranian government media outlet, Tasnim News Agency, yesterday, a top military ssource said the Americans know that Iran will not allow “bullying” by Trump and American forces.
Referring to the initial shots fired by Iranian forces at a number of US combat vessels, the source said: “Iran’s Armed Forces, as during the 40-day war, will not permit the passage of American combat forces, and any movement through the Strait of Hormuz will not take place without authorization from the Iranian Armed Forces.”
The source further noted that all vessels should learn lessons from the experience of the 40-day war and avoid paying the price for what he described as “the Americans’ stupidity.”
“In addition to firing at US combat vessels, Iran has also prepared other scenarios that it will implement if necessary,” the source added.
The comments came after Commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters Major General Ali Abdollahi warned that any foreign military force, particularly the US, will come under attack if it attempts to approach or enter the Strait.
“We would preserve and firmly manage the security of the Strait of Hormuz with full capability, advising all commercial vessels and oil tankers to refrain from any attempt to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without coordination with the Armed Forces (of Iran) stationed there in order not to endanger their security,” the top general stated.
*PHOTO CAPTION: A vessel on the Strait.
