Strait of Hormuz: The United States Adds Illegality to Illegality, Says Researcher Mikaa Blugeon

On France Inter, Monday, April 13th, researcher Mikaa Blugeon-Mered, specializing in geopolitics at the University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières and also a teacher at the War School in Paris, stated, “The United States adds illegality to illegality, since in fact, the first blockade, by Iran itself, was illegal.” The unanimous opposition against Donald Trump grew after he announced, on Sunday, April 12th, his intention to block Iranian ports following failed negotiations with Iran. “Any hindrance to navigation in a natural strait is obviously forbidden,” the researcher explained, emphasizing that access should be “free, unrestricted, without any obstacles.”

According to the researcher, “It is indeed easier to block the Strait of Hormuz and everything north or west of the Strait of Hormuz, and then there is what is in the Gulf of Oman.” He added, “From a capacity perspective, a blockade in the Gulf of Oman is not possible, meaning that here, militarily, the costs in terms of human resources, in terms of technical means, are just too significant.” Despite the strong American military presence in the Gulf, the risk of an Iranian response, particularly on the energy sites of the allies of the United States, remains very high.

The issue is “political,” with one of the adversaries expected to yield, according to Mikaa Blugeon-Mered. “To give an idea, there were indeed six ships that passed yesterday, four the day before, six more the day before, so it’s very few compared to the 140 ships in normal daily rhythm,” detailed the researcher. He believes that “the United States is definitely upping the stakes to try to inflict the costs of continuity of this war and this action, particularly the blockade on Iran, which are unbearable for Iran, and Iran is doing the exact same thing.” He concluded, “If you ask me who might yield first, I would bet on Donald Trump,” because “he has more to lose” than the Iranians.

“Paris and London will organize ‘in the next few days a conference with the ready countries to contribute’ to ‘a peaceful multinational mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation’ in the Strait of Hormuz,” announced French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday. This proposal represents an attempt at a “third way, a clearly diplomatic way and a way that can reaffirm international law,” explained Mikaa Blugeon-Mered.