The Strait of Hormuz (SoH) has become a new escalation point in the growing tension in the Gulf. Tensions began with UK’s seizure of an Iranian ship but further escalated after Iran seized two tankers. The oil tanker, Stena Impero, is British-flagged and there are 18 Indians onboard Stena Impero.
The SoH is one of the world’s most important oil passageways. Twenty per cent of the global oil supply flows through it. If it is closed, the price of oil will increase significantly.
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan tweeted, “Received an update on ‘Stena Impero’. Our Embassy availed consular access today evening. All 18 Indian crew members on board are safe and doing fine. Will continue to push for their early release.”
They are expected home soon because of India’s friendly relation with Iran. Iran has already released nine out of 12 Indians who were on the ship MT Riah which was detained in early July.
The UK has now decided to provide Royal Navy’s Frigate escort for all British-flagged ships passing through SoH.
The rising tension in the SoH should be seen in the background of sanctions imposed on Iran by the US. The sanctions have hurt Iran as oil export has virtually stopped. On May 12, two Saudi oil tankers were attacked near the SoH. The US accused Iran behind the attack, while Iran refused. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards seized Stena Impero on July 19 after the UK seized an Iranian oil tanker, Grace 1, on July 4, off the coast of Gibraltar. Gibraltar said the ship was suspected of supplying oil to Syria in breach of European Union sanctions. Iranian news agency IRNA had reported that the Stena Impero was seized due to a collision with an Iranian fishing boat. The new UK government must work extra time to find a lasting solution.
Article 44 of UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) says, “States bordering Straits shall not hamper transit passage and shall give appropriate publicity to any danger to navigation or overflight within or over the Strait of which they have knowledge. There shall be no suspension of transit passage.”
Iran has signed UNCLOS but not ratified it. Iranian President Rouhani said, “We do not seek the continuation of tension with some European countries. If Britain steps away from the wrong actions in Gibraltar, they will receive an appropriate response from Iran.”
Iraqi PM Adel Abdul Mahdi probably visited Iran at the request of UK. It is believed that the UK has offered to release Grace 1 if Iran gives a guarantee that the oil tanker will not go ahead with its plan and supply oil to Syria.
The collision with an Iranian fishing boat reminded me of a similar incident that had happened near Hazira Port, Gujarat way back in October 2014. The Iranian ship M V Batis collided with an Indian fishing boat resulting in the death of five Indian fishermen. All Iranian crew members were released and repatriated and the ship was also released. Keeping this in mind, Iran must release the Indian crew on priority.
