Gian Ehrenzeller / EPA
We take the ship, we take the cargo, we take the oil. It’s a very profitable business. We are a kind of pirates. And we are no longer ashamed.
US President Donald Trump launched yet another controversy this Friday by comparing the US Navy’s operations against Iran to acts of piracy, at a time when tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate and negotiations to end the war remain at an impasse.
At an event in Florida, Trump described in stark terms the recent seizure of an Iranian ship by US forces, says .
“We take the ship, we take the cargo, we took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business“, said Trump. “We are like pirates. We’re kind of pirates, but we’re not kidding.” So, without any itching, without shame — on the contrary, with pride.
Trump’s comments refer to the naval blockade imposed by Washington on Iranian ports, as part of the military campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28.
Since the beginning of the conflict, US forces have seized several Iranian ships, sanctioned container ships and oil tankers.
Iran, for its part, blocked practically all navigation non-Iranian border in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic crossing point through which approximately 20% of oil and natural gas liquefied worldwide.
The war has had far-reaching consequences, driving up world oil prices and causing the displacement of millions of people. US and Israeli attacks on Iran, as well as Israeli operations in Lebanon, have caused thousands of deaths among the civilian populationprompting widespread criticism from the international community.
Trump himself has faced condemnation for his rhetoric, including last month’s threat and suggestion that civilian infrastructure could be targeted — statements that many US legal experts have warned could constitute condoning war crimes.
Efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire have proven fruitless, and signs point to a further deterioration of the situation.
Not Saturday, Mohammad Jafar Asadia senior Iranian military official, told the Fars agency that the return to full-scale hostilities was “likely”.
Asadi accused Washington of use provocative statements mainly as a media strategy, with the aim of supporting oil prices and diverting attention from the consequences of the conflict.
Adding yet another pressure factor, notes , the US Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a notice to shipping companies international companies that can face sanctions if they pay fees to Iran to guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
