US 'cowboy' behavior on Hormuz exposes war intent: Expert

"Exposing actual intention of US to go for war": Foreign affairs expert Waiel Awwad on Trump claim on Hormuz as "new US territory"

New Delhi, August 23

Trump had shared an image that depicts the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz as "NEW US Territory", even as Iran reiterated that the crucial maritime corridor will remain closed unless the United States alters its stance.

Reacting to the development, Awwad said that that the US President should be protecting international maritime passage and that such rhetoric can pose more harm than arriving at a solution.

"I don't believe that the President of United States should behave in such kind of a manner. Instead, he should be protecting the international maritime passage and also to make sure that this kind of rhetoric will harm more of any solution because he is exposing the actual intention of the United States to go for this war," he told ANI.

Awwad further said, "I believe the president of the United States is behaving like a cowboy. He wanted to conquer the whole world for the last of the oil and gas, the natural resources of every this country. He's not only included the Strait of Hormuz, but also included country like the Sultanate of Oman, which is a civilization elder than his own country."

He also termed the latest slew of unilateral sanctions upon Iran by the US as "economic coercion", calling it dangerous for global stability.

Awwad told ANI, "Any unilateral sanctions carried out by any country, against any country, has no moral, it has no law to follow. The United States forcing other nations to follow and adhere to the American dictation. I believe this kind of economic coercion, it's more of a dangerous for any global stability."

He said that as a global superpower, the US should aim at bringing tranquility and peace, and "not to subjugate countries into lots of sanctions."

He added, "I believe that the United States president is counting his days that he will be impeached. He will lose the popularity in the United States, and he's doing more damage to the American globally rather than being supported, getting his own support. I think the United States is more globally isolated now."

His remarks come after Washington announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting Iran, amid continued tensions between the two countries and broader instability in West Asia.

Trump recently announced what he called the "most crushing economic operation ever taken" against Iran and warned countries providing financial, business or government support to Tehran of "tremendous economic consequences".

The US President said the measures would target Iran's economic lifelines, including oil smuggling networks, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies.

He also called the campaign an "Economic D-Day" and urged American allies to join Washington in isolating Iran.

— ANI