2023-05-19 22:13:00
From our regional correspondent,
Somewhere between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, the Guepratte navigates the calm waters of the Gulf. This French navy frigate is on patrol on behalf of a coalition of nine European countries. In the Strait of Hormuz, two oil tankers were recently seized in less than a week by Iran. This is a new escalation of tensions around this maritime area.
On the upper bridge of the ship, the naval lieutenant, Pierre-Yves, prepares to observe the area. ” Our first censor is, for example, the helicopter which is there, taking off, he explains. That’s the building’s first censor because it allows us to look farther afield to monitor the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. There, we have a good view of the extent of the censors of the Guepratteit goes from the helicopter to the sight, through radars, radar interceptors, radios, etc. »
A multinational mission in a spirit of de-escalation
Through its presence at sea, this mission aims to guarantee freedom of navigation around the Strait of Hormuz, but also to protect the economic interests of the European countries concerned in this area under high tension.
Sitting in his chair in the cockpit, Captain Thomas Puga explains the context in which the mission was launched. ” In the region, at the time of the Trump administration, the Americans had decided to have a slightly more muscular posture vis-à-vis Iran, does he trace. At that time, a number of European nations, including France, wanted to provide another response to the level of maritime traffic in the region, with an approach that is resolutely and voluntarily turned towards what might be called a kind of de-escalation, a logic of insurance in fact towards the traffic. And especially not turned towards someone. »
The Strait of Hormuz, a political and geostrategic asset for Iran
Despite this initiative, incidents still occur frequently in Gulf waters. In most cases, they implicate the Iranian authorities. Last year, the Revolutionary Guards, for example, seized two oil tankers flying the Greek flag. A retaliatory measure once morest the seizure of a ship carrying Iranian oil by Greece.
According to Jon Gambrell, head of the Gulf and Iran bureau for the Associated Press agency, this posture illustrates Iran’s vision of this maritime space: ” From the Iranian point of view, the Persian Gulf, but also the Strait of Hormuz, this small maritime corridor through which 20% of the world’s oil passes, is in a way their backyard. It therefore seems that the tensions that often arise in these waters are explained by the current political situation with regard to Iran. But also vis-a-vis the nuclear agreement, vis-a-vis dual nationals or other Western nationals detained in this country. So sometimes all these tensions spill over into the waters. »
For Tehran, the Strait of Hormuz is therefore a geopolitical asset that can influence major international issues.
Read also : Iran seizes oil tanker in Gulf of Oman
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