NOOSE TIGHTENS AROUND THE NECK OF HUMANITY

Over the past 30 hours, the United States escalated the conflict in its war against Iran, when U.S. President Donald Trump on May 2 declared that U.S. “Project Freedom” would begin today, for the U.S. military to control transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. CentCom statement declared that the U.S. Navy will provide “guidance” for ships’ passage, and oppose Iranian interference with force. CentCom reported U. S. forces include “guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members.” There may be a Pentagon briefing on the situation Tuesday, May 5.

A statement from Iran was issued early on May 4 by Iranian Major General Ali Abdollahi, reaffirming the right of Iran to control its waters, and posting a map showing the line across the Persian Gulf above and below the Strait of Hormuz, inside which Iran declares its sovereignty to control transit.

As of this evening reports continue to come out, sometimes conflicting, of warning shots, damage to ships, and the U.S. claim to have sunk six small Iran boats. It is reported that officials from Iran and Oman will be conferring imminently, as the two littoral nations that have worked together for decades on safe navigation. Meantime, the U.A.E. is caught in the middle of the conflict.

The UN has a navigation corridor scheme on standby, worked out by a multi-agency taskforce commissioned in mid-March, including the International Maritime Organization. Their goals include providing exodus for the 200 vessels and 20,000 seamen trapped for weeks in the blockade, and also expediting vital flows of commodities and humanitarian cargo.

However, the Trump Administration opposes the principle of international law of the United Nations. The U.S. and Israel continue unilateral action, not only in the Gulf region, but also Israel is striking Lebanon and Gaza hard. Today, Trump posted on social media that Iran will be “blown off the face of the Earth,” if it targets U.S. ships in the Strait. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz announced he will prepare a UN Security Council resolution, along with the U.A.E., against Iran. Waltz last week called for other nations to join the U.S.-led “Maritime Freedom Construct.”

All the while, the worldwide economic shocks grow by the hour, given the shutdown of vital flows of oil, gas, naphtha, fertilizers, sulphur and other commodities through the Gulf. A grim warning was given of the life-and-death implications for food was given by Svein Tore Holsether, CEO of Yara International, the world’s biggest fertilizer company, based in Norway, who said April 30 that he foresees a scenario of a “global auction” of fertilizer coming into being, where fertilizer goes to the highest bidder and the poor lose out. Yara operates in 60 countries, and sells in dozens more; its fertilizer prices to farmers are up 80% since March.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche, Schiller Institute leader, used the analogy of “the noose tightening around the neck of humanity” to describe the consequences of allowing all this to continue. To further decisive action to stop the madness, this news service will sponsor its fourth international (online) roundtable this year, of experts conferring on the emergency situation, to mobilize forces to intervene. The date is tentatively set for Friday, May 15, to be conducted concurrently with the weekly International Peace Coalition. An invitation in multiple languages is forthcoming.

Provocations abound. Today a high-rise apartment building in Moscow was hit by Ukraine attack drones, with the obvious implication of targeting the person of President Vladimir Putin. Moreover, the strike took place only days before Russia’s May 9 observance of the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The drone attack took place as the eighth summit of the European Political Community of some 48 nations, plus EU and NATO leaders, in Yerevan, Armenia discussed new multibillion-dollar funding for Kiev to keep the Ukraine proxy war against Russia going. This grouping was initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

There are forces in motion for diplomacy and intervention to stop this warfare. One important focus this month is May 26, when China, rotating President of the UN Security Council for May, will hold a special UNSC open debate at the ministerial level on “Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-Centered International System.” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the discussion, and more than the 15 member nations of the UNSC are likely to participate.

This is the direction to take, without delay. Zepp-LaRouche called on everyone to support this initiative for humanity. She warned today that we are in “a period of heightened military tension and danger. Something can go awfully wrong at any moment.”