Warning against the risks of escalating naval blockades

Critics and maritime experts warn that while the abandonment of the toll is a relief, the continued use of naval blockades poses severe risks to the global economy and international law. By restricting Iranian trade, the U.S. risks further inflaming a conflict that has already disrupted energy supplies and increased costs for consumers worldwide. Analysts caution that such aggressive military posturing, even without the added burden of a 20 per cent toll, could trigger retaliatory attacks on commercial shipping, potentially leading to a wider regional war that would be far more costly than any fee could ever recover.