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Blinken: Iran using Strait of Hormuz as leverage; urges global pressure

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • US Secretary of State Blinken stated Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in Middle East conflicts and urged other nations to increase pressure.
  • Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed two oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz exploded and lost power.
  • Iran warned that the Strait of Hormuz would not regain security as long as the US continues its attacks in the region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on July 19 that Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip in Middle East conflicts, calling on other countries to intensify pressure to protect global shipping. "It is clear that Iran or certain people in Iran want to control the Strait of Hormuz and use it as leverage against the world," Blinken told reporters before heading to the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in the Philippines.

It is clear that Iran or certain people in Iran want to control the Strait of Hormuz and use it as leverage against the world.

— Antony BlinkenStating Iran's strategic use of the Strait of Hormuz.

Blinken emphasized that the US will continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard global shipping, but stressed that other nations must also increase their efforts, providing hardware or funding to help share the responsibility. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on July 20 that two oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz had exploded and lost their ability to navigate.

In a statement, the Revolutionary Guards claimed that "late last night, two non-compliant oil tankers attempted to enter the Strait of Hormuz via a dangerous southern route, during which they exploded and were forced to stop navigating." The Guards did not disclose the names or flags of the vessels or the condition of the crew. They accused the tankers of attempting to use the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz under US encouragement.

late last night, two non-compliant oil tankers attempted to enter the Strait of Hormuz via a dangerous southern route, during which they exploded and were forced to stop navigating.

— Iran's Revolutionary Guard CorpsDescribing an incident involving two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Revolutionary Guards warned that the Strait of Hormuz would not regain security as long as the US continues its attacks in the region. The report comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, which critically endanger the freedom of navigation in the vital Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz will not regain security as long as the US continues its attacks in the region.

— Iran's Revolutionary Guard CorpsWarning about the security of the Strait of Hormuz.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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