Amid the ongoing standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering the possibility of launching a naval escort mission to ensure the safe movement of commercial vessels through the strategic waterway, according to Middle East analyst Kenneth Katzman.
Katzman said the Trump administration is seeking to maintain pressure on Iran through strategic measures while avoiding direct military confrontation. As part of this approach, discussions are underway about providing US security escorts for stranded commercial oil tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the analyst, Washington could move forward with such a mission if Iran fails to take steps to reduce tensions in the region. He noted that the initiative would likely reassure US allies in the Gulf and help stabilise global energy supplies to some extent.
However, Katzman warned that the situation could escalate rapidly if Iran responds militarily to any US-led escort operation. In such a scenario, he suggested that the United States could adopt a significantly tougher stance.
Analysts believe that a prolonged crisis in the Strait of Hormuz could have more severe economic consequences for Iran, whose economy heavily depends on energy exports transported via maritime routes. Any disruption to oil production and exports, they say, could further increase economic pressure on the country and negatively affect ordinary citizens.
Source: Al Jazeera