I don’t see the tolls as a problem. If anything, they should endear the Iranians to a billionaire like Trump who probably would have done the exact same thing if he was in charge of Iran.
The Lloyds of London insurance is essentially a toll
**I don’t see the tolls as a problem.**
Me neither. It punishes the Euroweenies the most. Chicoms will probably get a pass. The rest of Asia will have to grin and bear it until our production goes up. The Saudi pipeline across their whole country seems to cow tow to the Shia’s.
SOH has always been recognized as international free transit waters. What Iran is doing is no different then the Barbary Pirates. We should definitely go to war to maintain a free passage for all nations.
On the poise side of the equation, the Arab gulf states have had 47 years to plan for this. Not building pipelines like Saudi Arabia is on them. Even building a canal thru UAE to bypass the SOH is a better alternative than the mess we have now. Iran has always been a bully backed by Russia and China. China is finally getting its comeuppance and will most likely fail.
SOH has always been recognized as international free transit waters. What Iran is doing is no different then the Barbary Pirates. We should definitely go to war to maintain a free passage for all nations.
On the other side of the equation, the Arab gulf states have had 47 years to plan for this. Not building pipelines like Saudi Arabia is on them. Even building a canal thru UAE to bypass the SOH is a better alternative than the mess we have now. Iran has always been a bully backed by Russia and China. China is finally getting its comeuppance and will most likely fail.
Are you aware of President Trump's counter to the tolls?
When the idea was first floated, President Trump was saying that countries could pay $2 million to Iran as protection to traverse the Strait, or they could pay $2 million to the United States to be securely escorted through the Strait, with insurance. Who's treasury would you prefer to give your $2 million to?
Trump was asking, "Do you want to pay the terrorists or do you want to build partnerships with the United States?"
I don't know if this was actually implemented (I'd think the Democrats in the Senate would block it because it could work), but it might be something that is still on the table.
-PJ
“I don’t see the tolls as a problem.”
*****************************************
Sure, no problem. Let the mad mullahs rake in billions of dollars to start financing their exportation of terror again.
It would drive up costs worldwide, and provide a massive cash infusion to Iran's terrorist regime. It also would stoke accurate claims that Trump's decision to attack Iran made things worse. He'd look like he was completely outplayed, which would be a completely fair assessment.
So yeah, it's a problem.