Chinese-owned oil tanker hit near Strait of Hormuz in first since Iran conflict began

[justoffal]

Seems Iran logistics arent working. It also seems China is ready to get fuel from UAE?

Ahhhhh .... That would explain why Iran is attacking UAE oil facilities.

 

[Cassandro]

Idk.

That should be your screen name.

 

[Kruska]

"Trump says US will start 'Project Freedom Plus' if Iran talks fail...'"​

Donald Trump: US will start new Hormuz operation if Iran talks fail | The Jerusalem Post

The US and Iran are still divided over Iran's nuclear program (and Israel's), and Iranian efforts to assert sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

What changes if Russia and/or China decide to become actively involved?

Iran Update Special Report, May 8, 2026

1. "Confidential Russian documents, seen by The Economist, revealed a Russian proposal to offer Iran several thousand drones and training for Iranian drone operators, which raises concerns about the proliferation of fiber-optic drone technology to Iran and its regional proxies. Some of these proxies have already demonstrated the ability to employ these systems against US and allied targets."

I have no reasons to believe that China will actively get involved in this US/Israel incited war. Also the Chinese aka the CPC doesn't approve of the Iranian Islam-fundamentalism proxy policy, especially not with the "new" IRGC power factions, now getting the upper hand in Iran.

Iran is off course a major economic focal point for China's Silk-Road ambitions for the entire Middle-East - which they will not make dependent on Iran's respective political mood. I would therefore rather tend towards China working very hard to get an agreeable peaceful coexistence between Iran and Saudi-Arabia.

 

[Kruska]

Ahhhhh .... That would explain why Iran is attacking UAE oil facilities.

China is getting oil from ALL these Gulf-States - factually the overwhelming majority of their imported oil from the Middle-East is not from Iran. Therefore Iran using Hormuz as a pawn, isn't in China's interest at all.

 

[justoffal]

China is getting oil from ALL these Gulf-States - factually the overwhelming majority of their imported oil from the Middle-East is not from Iran. Therefore Iran using Hormuz as a pawn, isn't in China's interest at all.

Wow.... Good call

 

[justoffal]

China is getting oil from ALL these Gulf-States - factually the overwhelming majority of their imported oil from the Middle-East is not from Iran. Therefore Iran using Hormuz as a pawn, isn't in China's interest at all.

So it's not impossible then that Iran actually fired on a Chinese tanker.... What the heck would they do if the Chinese Navy showed up and working with the American Navy?

By the way in China Muslims are put into mental institutions I wonder if Iran realizes that.

 

[Kruska]

So it's not impossible then that Iran actually fired on a Chinese tanker.... What the heck would they do if the Chinese Navy showed up and working with the American Navy?

By the way in China Muslims are put into mental institutions I wonder if Iran realizes that.

I can't out-rule it, being aware of Iran's rather incompetent military and specifically their insufficient capability on brigade level and below. As such a "decentralization" and resulting individual action can cause this. Certainly that strike wasn't intentional by Iran.

The probability off a 2nd party having executed that strike - looks far higher to me. There is e.g. a massive deterioration in the former relationship between China and Israel. With China openly attacking Israel on the diplomatic and economic level since Israels stance and actions on Gaza.

And NO, China is not placing Muslims into mental institutions.

 

[georgephillip]

Iran is off course a major economic focal point for China's Silk-Road ambitions for the entire Middle-East - which they will not make dependent on Iran's respective political mood. I would therefore rather tend towards China working very hard to get an agreeable peaceful coexistence between Iran and Saudi-Arabia.

It is looking more likely Iran and Saudi Arabia are perceiving the UAE as a common threat?

The Gulf that emerges from the Iran war will be very different

 

[justoffal]

It is looking more likely Iran and Saudi Arabia are perceiving the UAE as a common threat?

The Gulf that emerges from the Iran war will be very different

Ok the Sauds are pissed that UAE left OPEC.....but there is no way in hell Sauds and Iran will work together on anything IMO....
the Sunni<>Shia thing is way to prevalent between them.

 

[Kruska]

It is looking more likely Iran and Saudi Arabia are perceiving the UAE as a common threat?

The Gulf that emerges from the Iran war will be very different

I would absolutely agree to that - after all Saudi-Arabia, especially when taking their Wahhabism into account - isn't in favor of the UAE's acceptance and promotion of Western-Subculture. One can see Saudi Arabia's police/military action when it comes to e.g. Bahrain or their rivalry with Qatar.
Saudis demonstrate a clear visibility towards national-Arab identity - which the UAE (foremost Dubai) has abandoned or is in steep decline since around 2000. - and therefore is from Saudi perspective also far too "friendly' towards Israel and the USA.

 

[Kruska]

Ok the Sauds are pissed that UAE left OPEC.....but there is no way in hell Sauds and Iran will work together on anything IMO....
the Sunni<>Shia thing is way to prevalent between them.

If you are aware of the extreme ARAB prestige and face-saving importance - the F-35 sales-topic is enough to drive a solid wedge between the Saudis and the UAE, and as such against the USA. Further more unlike the UAE, the Saudis have not signed the Abraham accord.

Also Saudi-Arabia is "very eager' to obtain a nuke weapons capability, therefore I wouldn't even out-rule a Saudi-Iranian "cooperation interest". And it's no secret that the 4 known contenders for Middle-East supremacy are Israel, Turkey, Saudi and Iran.

Taking TACO $$$ mind (his only interest) into account - the UAE might offer him a far more interesting "DEAL" then Saudi-Arabia. Even taking into account that TACO would be willing to make or at least back the UAE to be a fifth contender.

 

[georgephillip]

I would absolutely agree to that - after all Saudi-Arabia, especially when taking their Wahhabism into account - isn't in favor of the UAE's acceptance and promotion of Western-Subculture. One can see Saudi Arabia's police/military action when it comes to e.g. Bahrain or their rivalry with Qatar.
Saudis demonstrate a clear visibility towards national-Arab identity - which the UAE (foremost Dubai) has abandoned or is in steep decline since around 2000. - and therefore is from Saudi perspective also far too "friendly' towards Israel and the USA.

I suspect we have no idea yet of how many current GCC borders will disappear in the next decade?

Arab states of the Persian Gulf - Wikipedia

 

[georgephillip]

Also Saudi-Arabia is "very eager' to obtain a nuke weapons capability, therefore I wouldn't even out-rule a Saudi-Iranian "cooperation interest". And it's no secret that the 4 known contenders for Middle-East supremacy are Israel, Turkey, Saudi and Iran.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran might challenge Israel's nuclear hegemony in West Asia, especially since Israel has made it clear Turkey is next on their hit list.

 

[Kruska]

I suspect we have no idea yet of how many current GCC borders will disappear in the next decade?

Arab states of the Persian Gulf - Wikipedia

Due to my trips to Qatar (German Gepard AA tanks) and Oman - regarding other military issues - I can assure you that both Qatar and Oman are VERY aware about this.

 

[Leo123]

We wasted their smokestacks/rudder in a precision strike. Multiple IRANIAN-FLAGGED empty tankers tried to violate the blockade. CENTCOM issued repeated warnings before the strike.