According to sources from The Wall Street Journal, the US is discussing a direct military intervention plan targeting Iran's energy transport fleet. This is seen as a strategic card that President Donald Trump's administration wants to use to force Iran to accept strict restrictions on its nuclear program, which is causing extreme tension.
The core goal of this measure is to strike directly at Iran's economic life. By blocking cash flow from oil exports, the US hopes to create a financial crisis large enough to force Iranian leaders to return to the negotiating table in a weaker position.
However, although the plan has been discussed, Washington is still showing caution. US officials are currently facing 2 major concerns: One is that supply disruption could cause world oil prices to skyrocket, negatively affecting the global economy; and two are direct military retaliation from Iran in strategic straits such as Hormuz.
When asked about the possibility of implementing this risky move, a White House official affirmed that President Donald Trump is holding "a lot of options available" if diplomatic efforts fail. This message shows that the US is ready to escalate the conflict if Iran continues to maintain a tough stance and does not compromise on uranium enrichment activities.
Considering the seizure of oil tankers is considered a step "on the brink of conflict". If Washington actually deploys naval forces to seize the ship, Tehran will certainly not sit idly by. Iran has repeatedly warned that if they cannot export oil, no other country in the region can do it safely.
Experts believe that this move by the US is not only aimed at Iran but also a warning to its oil-consuming customers. It creates an extremely high risk environment for international transportation and insurance companies, making energy trade with Tehran more costly and dangerous than ever.
In the context of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East at an alarming level, any act of interference in freedom of navigation could become the spark for a large-scale armed conflict. The world is holding its breath waiting to see if Washington will actually launch this dangerous blow or if this is just a psychological warfare measure to put pressure on the nuclear negotiating table.
The confrontation between the US and Iran has now entered a new phase, where simple economic sanctions are gradually being replaced by more risky and drastic on-the-ground intervention plans.
