Tehran, May 18 (RHC)-- Iran is shipping tons of gasoline to Venezuela in defiance of U.S. sanctions on both countries in a symbolic move guaranteed by Tehran’s missile prowess.
Unconfirmed reports and tanker monitoring groups suggest that at least five Iranian-flagged tankers are transporting fuel to Venezuela through the Atlantic Ocean despite the U.S. sanctions on both Tehran and Caracas. Iran has intentionally hoisted its own flag over the huge tankers which are navigating through the Atlantic before the eyes of the US Navy.
According to reports, Tehran is shipping large consignments of gasoline to Venezuela even though the US would try to intercept the shipments and seize the tankers.
There are unconfirmed reports that the US Navy has deployed its USS Detroit (LCS-7), USS Lassen (DDG-82), USS Preble (DDG-88), and USS Farragut (DDG-99) to the Caribbean along with its patrol aircraft Boeing P8-Poseidon for possible encounter with the Iranian vessels.
An Iranian source says the U.S. would fail in its attempt to block Iranian shipments of gasoline to Venezuela. However, analysts say it is very unlikely that the US makes such a mistake, as it would have serious repercussions for the Trump administration ahead of the November elections.
Observers say that Washington would not dare to seize the Iranian vessels especially after Iran’s reaction to a similar move by the United Kingdom, a close ally of Washington.
Iran has also the upper hand thanks to its missile power, which was showed off to the U.S. in the IRGC’s retaliatory missile attacks on the Ain al-Assad Airbase in Iraq, which accommodated American troops.
The U.S. was also reminded of the Islamic Republic’s missile prowess following the recent successful launch of Nour-1 military satellite, which reached the orbit using the Qased satellite carrier. Some Western analysts claim the satellite achievements are a prelude to Iran’s program to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Confident about its missile capabilities, Iran is going on with the gasoline shipment to its ally in Latin America, mocking the U.S. sanctions on the oil sectors of both countries.
The U.S. seems to be between the rock and hard place. While it is unlikely for Washington to dare to intercept the tankers, if they reach their destination safe and sound, it may tarnish the “superpower” forever.
However, we should still wait and see whether the U.S. administration would let the Iranian tankers go and strip Washington of its “superpower” title, or it would dare to intercept the vessels and endanger Donald Trump’s campaign ahead of the November elections.
