US blockade masks military build-up, not economic siege, argues analystWashington’s blockade on the Strait of Hormuz is not an “economic siege” but a smokescreen for repositioning US military forces ahead of a possible new round of conflict, says Hassan Ahmadian, an associate professor at the University of Tehran.
Ahmadian dismissed the White House claims that the war has been costing Iran roughly $500 million a day.
Additionally, Iranian sources report only one ship seizure has taken place, the incident that triggered an Iranian counter-response, he explained.
“There hasn’t been a single other ship that was stopped by the Americans, and there’s a reason for that, because the Iranians made it clear if you do this, we will retaliate. It’s an act of war,” Ahmadian told Al Jazeera.
The US “cannot impose what they want on Iran” through war, so it has turned to the blockade, not to strangle Iran’s economy, but to buy time.
“It’s a cover for bringing in more forces and equipment for the next round of conflict against Iran,” said the analyst.
Ahmadian also rejected Trump’s suggestion that Iran’s decision-making is fractured.
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