Former Israeli Intelligence Official: Charging Transit Fees from Ships Questions US Stance on Freedom of Navigation

Former Israeli intelligence official: Charging ships transit fees calls the U.S. position on freedom of navigation into question / Iran will not voluntarily relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz Dennis Citrinovich, former head of the Iran desk in Israeli military intelligence, referring to developments in the Strait of Hormuz, stressed that the U.S. request for commercial vessels to pay transit fees could create a clear contradiction with Washington’s long-standing stance in defense of freedom of navigation. He also warned that if Yemen’s response to Saudi attacks leads to disruptions in traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the consequences for global energy markets could be on par with developments in the Strait of Hormuz and could drive up oil prices. Citrinovich claimed that Israel would likely not be displeased by the collapse of diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran. However, the current situation shows that neither Washington nor Tehran is very eager for Israel to become directly involved in this confrontation, because such a move would sharply increase the risk of escalation and the outbreak of a wider regional war./Jamaran