Iran’s President Rouhani travelled with the “proposals for peace and security” in the Persian Gulf to New York. The Initiative is so far on love, fear and distrust in the Region are too large.
“Iran is ready to forgive his neighbours their mistake,” said Iran’s President Hasan Rouhani prior to his trip to New York. There, Rouhani at the UN will attend the General Assembly and also hold a speech. “We don’t want to allow the enemies of Islam take advantage of the gap between neighbors,” said Rouhani last Sunday at a major military parade in Tehran. Tehran wool friendship and brotherhood with all countries of the Region, and “stretches its Hand”. Rouhani has given the Initiative the name “coalition of hope”.
How seriously they meant: The Iranian Initiative comes at a critical time. The attacks on Saudi Oil facilities on the 14. September have increased the already severe tensions in the Region. In the meantime, have made Germany, France and England, the view in Washington that Iran was responsible for the attacks.
Damage to Saudi Arabian oil equipment in Abqaiq by the drone attack
Iran’s ambivalent signals
“Iran’s offensive strategy of recent months has demonstrated its strength and influence. But, presumably, Iran’s actions have, of course, also Fears of regional destabilization,” says Ali Fathollah-Nejad, Iran expert at the Brookings Institution in Doha, in the DW-Interview. “In spite of the different relationships of the various Gulf States, Iran, the distrust is in the majority at all”, writes Ali Fathollah-Nejad.
The Iranian Initiative aims, in the words of Rowhani’s to ensure peace and security in the Persian Gulf and in the Strait of Hormuz by the residents. Almost a third of global oil Exports is shipped through this Region. In the past few months, a series of incidents, the vulnerability of this artery of the world energy supply throughout the world has brought before our eyes. Among other things, several Oil tankers, which were in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz on the road were damaged in may and June, due to explosions on the hull. The United States and Western allies, and Saudi Arabia, suspect Iran to have attacks carried out. In July seized Tehran temporarily the British oil Tanker Stena Impero.
Satellite image of the Strait of Hormuz – laws of the Gulf of Oman, on the left of the Persian Gulf
The focal point of Strait of Hormuz
Background of the conflict between the US and Iran after the unilateral withdrawal of the USA from the nuclear agreement in may 2018. In particular, the US President Donald Trump in the Wake of the campaign of the “maximum pressure” imposed sanctions against Iran’s oil Exports – the main source of income of the country. Since the further tightening of US sanctions this spring, these exports have plummeted sensitive.
“If the USA should block one day the Iranian Oil, then no Oil will be exported to the Persian Gulf”, was Rouhani said in the past year – and, indirectly, with a Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz threatened.
“The greatest threat to the Strait of Hormuz by Iran itself,” says Reza Taghizadeh, compared to the DW. The mean from the Iran-born Professor of International relations at the University of Glasgow: “Iran does so, as if he were in a Position of strength. After the recent attacks on Saudi Oil installations doubt that Iran is directly or indirectly behind these attacks, and thus a danger to the security of the global energy sector, there is hardly any”.
U.S. military shows its presence in the Strait of Hormuz
US military presence as a point of contention
Saudi Arabia is a fierce critic of the nuclear agreement, and supported the US policy of “maximum pressure” on its regional rival Iran. Saudi Arabia’s crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is now demanding from the international community, “to respond to such acts”. The attacks, which the been known for four years, Saudi Arabia fought the Houthi bitterly rebels in Yemen, had reduced Saudi Arabia’s oil production by half.
In response, the United States has increased its troop presence in the Middle East. U.S. Secretary of defense Mark Esper had communicated on Friday, the US President did not want war with Iran. At the same time Esper said: “Us military options are available should they be necessary.”
Already at the end of may, the U.S. had its troops in the Middle East because of the “continuing threat posed by Iranian forces,” to 1,500 troops reinforced. Previously, the US had moved, the military has a carrier group and a bomber squadron in the Region.
“At the core of Tehran and called for the withdrawal of Western powers from the Gulf region. Its Arab counterparty but are still dependent on their military presence, even though the attack on the Saudi Oil installations has shown that the United States cannot guarantee the security of the Petro-monarchies to the full extent,” says Iran expert Fatolla-Nejad. One should, however, also the Gulf monarchies is clear: A war against Iran would have for you to catastrophic consequences. “It follows, therefore, that these countries, whether they want to or not, must arrange for security policy with Iran,” says Fatolla-Nejad. The framework In which this can happen, but it is currently unclear.
If you are really serious about it: Iran’s President will have to make at the UN General Assembly and after a lot of Persuasion, when the “coalition of hope” is to become a reality.