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US President Donald Trump would consider the possibility of military action against Iran to keep the Middle East trade routes open after the Houthis, backed by Tehran, attacked a Saudi oil tanker on Wednesday . CNN reported Saturday citing US officials
No military action would be conducted by the US military but rather by US allied forces in the region, such as the Saudis, have said Trump administration officials. maintains a naval presence in the Middle East and provides intelligence-sharing support to the Saudis in their fight against the Houthis, with US officials explaining that any long-term military effort would require the participation of other countries.
US deliberation follows An incident on Wednesday saw the Iran-aligned Houthi movement attacking two giant Saudi oil tankers carrying four million barrels of crude oil into the Red Sea. As a result, Saudi Arabia announced that it was temporarily interrupting oil shipments across the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
"All cargoes of oil transiting through the Bab al-Mandab Strait are temporarily suspended until sea transit is secure" Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Khalid al-Falih said then declared
that the closure of the Saudi oil company Aramco was "in the interest of the safety of ships and their crews and to avoid the risk of oil spill". The statement adds: "The company takes care to evaluate the situation and will take other measures if prudence requires.
Bab al-Mandab links the Red Sea and Arabia The sea is a narrow and strategic shipping route for oil and international trade
Iran's leaders have also recently issued a barrage of threats suggesting a possible closure of the Strait of Ormuz, another vital seaway located between the Persian Gulf and the Persian Gulf d The Gulf of Oman, through which pbades a third of the world's oil.
"We have always guaranteed the safety of this strait. Do not play with the lion's tail, you will regret it forever, "warned Iranian President Hbadan Rouhani:" Peace with Iran would be the mother of all peace and the war with Iran would be the mother of all wars. "
Causing a furious response from Trump, he tweeted," NEVER EVER THREATENED THE UNITED STATES WHERE YOU SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES THAT HAVE SUFFERED SOME OF THE SUBJECTS OF ALL HISTORY. "
D & # 39; after CNN The Chief of the US Central Command and Overseas Military Operations in the Middle East General Joseph Votel traveled to the region to meet with counterparts and spoke about security issues at a conference of regional commanders
. the news agency, said it was not clear whether an action to keep the courts of open water is imminent.
Defense Secretary James Mattis reaffirmed on Friday int The international oil trade routes are open.It explained that if the Iranians decided to close the oil transport, "There would obviously be an international response to reopen shipping routes whatever it may be because the world economy depends on this energy."
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Trump was working quietly to create a new security political alliance called "Arab NATO" with Sunni Muslim allies in order to counter Iranian expansionism in the region.
The United States seeks to tighten the economic screws on Iran, abandoning a historic nuclear deal in 2015 and reimposing severe sanctions.
Washington also launched concerted propaganda efforts in Iran, including social media campaigns, to exacerbate popular discontent
. on the implication of US-Iranian tensions on oil markets with potential global repercussions.
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