Trump ask China and others for help in opening Strait of Hormuz

[Forex News]

Every military analyst in the world warned that Iran would try to shut down the Strait of Hormuz but Trump evidently didn't prepare for it. Now he's asking for China and other countries for help in opening it.

His latest message:

Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe. We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are. Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated. In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE! President DONALD J. TRUMP

This comes after he announced late yesterday that he bombed military targets on Kharg Island, which is where Iran loads and exports much of its oil. However he didn't attack the oil infrastructure but said he would "reconsider" if Iran interfered with ships in Hormuz.

All this is looking like a bigger mess than ever. He also said that Iran wants to negotiate but he doesn't want to but that's a tough one to believe and it's more likely that Iran has asked for far more than the US is willing to give, including security guarantees. A Reuters report just now says Trump has rejected efforts by Middle East allies to start negotiations and it also says Iran won't talk until US/Israel strikes stop

So the plan now appears to be for naval escorts through Hormuz but all reports suggest that can't happen until month end. Even uber-hawk John Bolton (Trump's former national security advisor) is now criticizing this mission.

"I favor regime change in Iran, but I'm deeply worried that inadequate preparation will prevent that goal from being achieved. There seem to be holes in the strategy, from the lack of coordination with the opposition, to the lapse in preparing the American people ahead of the attack," he writes.

In any case, it appears we're onto Plan B now, which is hope the naval escorts work, though that can't possibly be a permanent solution.

Meanwhile, Iran's military doesn't appear to be defeated as vdeos circulating online showed thick clouds of black smoke coming from Fujairah, a coastal city that hosts a major port in the UAE. Iran said the attacks on Kharg Island originated from that country.

The thing that scares me here is Russia. They're an ally of Iran and have every reason to try and prolong this war and send oil prices to the stratosphere. What a mess.

This article was written by Adam Button at investinglive.com.

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