Without prejudice
Following our last and the inability of the players to create a better environment in the Middle East and in particular in the Persian Gulf, I took a break. The most disgraceful ever “diplomatic” situation takes place as you read these lines with no one controlling its behaviour following the signing of the so-called Ceasefire MOU. Having spent decades as a ship sale and purchase broker, I know too well what an MOU is, how same is governed and protected in order to lead to the smooth delivery of ships. Very few MOUs have been cancelled due to the parties being at loggerheads.
Here we have a War, and in our humble view – have stressed this many times before, we are in the Third World War ever since the Syria mess began… There are vested interests of some nations, fair enough, but same exceeds the norm and the slaughtering of people, particularly of civilians – notably women and young children, continues and the madhouse of UN does nothing to stop it. Only wishful thinking and statements, also emanating from the IMO. Our interests rest with the lives and well being of thousands of stranded seafarers inside and close to the Strait of Hormuz. To put this in perspective, I suggest that those nations who intentionally or unintentionally target Seafarers be ousted from the IMO and from the UN as a whole! Needless to say with hefty financial and other penalties to be implemented.
In the last CSN conference at BLE in Athens there was, and thank to the 12 Gods, reference to the sufferings of Seafarers in general and in particular in the UKRAINE – RUSSIA conflict as well in the Middle East.
President Trump MUST end VICTORIOUSLY THE MIDDLE EAST / IRANIAN CASE!!!
The Iranians will not back off – if they (THEIR SUPERIORS) surrender, then they will be EITHER IMPRISONED OR executed.
Is president Trump under duress? From the Israeli lobby in the US or Israel itself?? Israel wants the US to continue the war!!! Israel’s citizens MUST FEEL SAFE!!! Equally though the Palestinians. Hamas, Hezbolah, Houthis and the lot MUST lay down their arms. Winners talk, losers don’t!
We have continual breach of ceasefire from both sides on all Middle East fronts…
On June 28th both sides reportedly agreed to cease the latest hostilities and renew talks over the Strait of Hormuz. Vessels will again move freely, according to a US official said. We have heard such assurances before.
What will happen after the July 7-8 meeting of NATO in Ankara???
One should focus on Türkiye and its manipulation of the states in central and East Med. Enough from the sick man of Europe. Europe and the US should never have allowed being conned by Türkiye’s expansionism. Türkiye MUST comply with and respect International Law.
We are also concerned with Türkiye’s flirting with Egypt.
Israel MUST MAKE OR BREAK!
We need the Strait of Hormuz to return to the pre-war status. END OF THE STORY…
In conclusion, after a painful on-off process, JD Vance now says that discussions between the U.S. and Iran are going well and that Washington will not return to full combat unless necessary. Such assertions have been voiced before. The 14-point memorandum of understanding paving the way for 60 days of negotiations towards a permanent peace agreement has had a rough ride, to say the least. And it would be a brave person who forecasts that a genuine new chapter of Middle East ‘peace’ is on the horizon. It seems unlikely we have reached the endpoint, with the state of play in Lebanon shaky to say the least, in the face of Israeli power politics and Hezbollah resistance. No wonder there is dithering in London and other capitals over the scale and shape of defence budgets.
The impotence of the major powers before other dreadful continuing conflicts, notably Ukraine-Russia and the nightmare of ongoing assaults and massacres in Sudan, where major powers are dubiously active behind the scenes, plus the quagmire of the DRC, bodes ill for any imminent halt to further atrocious human rights violations in those jurisdictions.
N.B. We are honoured to be live on BLUESKY TV for 54 minutes – a special interview with world acclaimed journalist Kostas Mardas on the above issues.
