Trump And Israel Get Humiliated; Iran Didn’t Need To Lift A Finger

Trump thought he had Iran cornered, but others are now showing who really has to be dealt with before the Strait of Hormuz moves. Right, so Trump and Israel wanted Iran cornered, and instead ships going through the Strait of Hormuz are now being told to deal with Iran before they move and that isn’t coming from Iran either, so that is the humiliation here. Iran has not had to give Donald Trump the big clean retaliation picture he very badly wants, no dramatic missile launch into a tanker, no propaganda clips for the White House, no neat “look what Tehran did” moment for the usual parade of grave-faced officials and very serious people paid to pretend American escalation is remotely akin to adult supervision. With Trump in charge its more like a nursery after the teacher has locked herself in a cupboard with a packet of cigarettes. So what is the craic then Damo? Well, in a massive embarrassment to Trump certainly and Israel by association, Global maritime insurers are now adding clauses requiring shipowners to contact Iranian authorities prior to attempting safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Ibn other words, insurers are making contact with Iranian authorities contingent upon and vessel attempting to pass through the Strait and that really does say everything about who is really in control. Iran has won the battle of the blockade without firing a shot. Dylan Mortimer, the UK marine war leader at Marsh, one of the biggest insurers brokers in the world has put all this in the bluntest possible terms. America can shout about control, Israel can demand pressure, Trump can do his usual frothing-mouthed chest-beating routine like a man trying to intimidate a cash machine, but the ships still need cover, the cover still needs confidence, and the confidence now has Iran written into the insurance policies covering that route.