INTERNATIONAL MARITIME : Middle East Crisis - Iran threatens to block the Strait of Hormuz

Continuing the backlash after Israel's airstrike on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus on April 1, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened on April 9 to blockade the Strait. Sea of ​​Hormuz in retaliation.

According to regional media, the threat was issued yesterday by the Commander of the Navy of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), General Alireza Tangsiri. This official stated that Iran is not in a hurry but is determined to launch an attack in response to Israel's airstrike. In particular, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Navy affirmed that the country will immediately review its policy on maritime traffic routes through the Strait of Hormuz, including measures to blockade this area if continues to be provoked by Israel

So far, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied Iran's accusations of conducting an airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, killing 7 senior members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. die. Despite this, the Israeli military still carries out a series of enhanced preventive measures in case of a retaliatory attack by Iran. Notably, Israeli media confirmed that in recent days, the country's air force has rehearsed scenarios of attacking Iran's nuclear facilities and some key infrastructure.

Continuing a series of strong reactions against the Israeli army's offensive campaign on the Gaza Strip, Turkish officials on April 9 decided to limit exports to Israel, while Saudi Arabia called for an immediate end. attacks on Palestinians.

An April 9 announcement from the Turkish Ministry of Commerce said that the country decided to restrict exports of 54 items to Israel, in response to the war that Tel Aviv is waging against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The announcement stated that the restrictive measures will remain in place until Israel declares an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and allows humanitarian aid to flow freely into this land.

Türkiye is one of the countries that most strongly criticizes and condemns the Israeli army's more than 6-month-long military offensive campaign on Gaza, in which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Israel as a "state of war". terrorist country".

In another notable reaction, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Jordan's King Abdullah II and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement calling for the immediate implementation of a ceasefire in Gaza. and implement all relevant Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. The joint statement emphasized: not violence, terrorism and war, but only a two-state solution can bring peace to the Middle East region.

Also yesterday, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz called on Israel to immediately stop attacks against Palestinians. In a special message on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, which ends the Muslim month of Ramadan, King Abdulaziz affirmed that attacking Palestinians during Eid Al-Fitr is unacceptable, emphasizing that it is necessary to stop. End the suffering of the Palestinian people by giving them legal and legitimate rights, including the right to establish an independent state.