Riyadh joins in US-led maritime coalition in the Gulf

Islam Mohamed

Saudi Arabia’s announcement that it will join a US-led coalition for protecting the maritime movement in the Arab Gulf promises to enlarge the coalition.

Riyadh made the announcement on September 18 with the aim of standing against piracy carried out in the region by terrorist movements affiliated to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corpse.

An official at the Saudi Ministry of Defense said Saudi Arabia has decided to join in the coalition against the background of a rise in tensions in the region.

The Saudi decision makes the coalition even stronger, especially after important states, including the UK and Australia, said they would be part of the same fold.

Hazards caused to the maritime movement in the Strait of Hormuz by the Revolutionary Guard Corpse is expected to encourage even more countries to join in the coalition in the coming days.

Around a third of the world’s crude oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which makes this maritime passageway of special importance.

Iranian bullying

On September 16, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corpse detained the 11 members of a ship crew near the occupied Emirati Greater Tunb Island, after accusing them of smuggling 250,000 liters of fuel into the United Arab Emirates.

The ship crew members were then sent to court in southern Iran. Iranian state television also aired photos of containers on board of the ship that appeared to be full of oil.

Iranian oil is by far the cheapest in the world because of a marked decline in the exchange rate of the Iranian currency. This is why Iran always talks about the smuggling of oil. Most smuggling activities are carried out by governmental networks affiliated with the Iranian Supreme Leader.

Iran stepped up its harassment of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz following the intensification of US sanctions on it.

Iranian affairs specialist Ahmed Qabal said Saudi Arabia’s decision to join in the US-led maritime coalition in the Gulf would give the grouping a much-required regional legitimacy.

“This decision will also encourage other countries to join in the same coalition,” he told The Reference.