Iran
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From: Ferrara
Pakistan have provided "security" to Saudi in the past - IIRC there were stories of about 10,000 troops moved to the Kingdom about 10 years ago in a spell of tension.
AS for Nuclear weapons I'm sure that the fate of of Libya, Ukraine and now Iran means htat nyone who can will be going flat out to get a weapon. I'd see it as my duty if I was in any medium sized power that might cross the USA, China or Russia
AS for Nuclear weapons I'm sure that the fate of of Libya, Ukraine and now Iran means htat nyone who can will be going flat out to get a weapon. I'd see it as my duty if I was in any medium sized power that might cross the USA, China or Russia
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From: Texas
The mutual defence pact is the recent one but the Saudi funding, as far as I know, has never been proven. Money circulation - in the Middle East especially - being a bit on the murky side. As to being surrounded, Pakistan might be a tad anxious about Iran having nuclear weapons this leaving it with a nuclear armed neighbour on two borders.
The U.S. Navy says its blockade on Iranian ports has turned back six vessels in the first 24 hours of its operation, including a Chinese ship that appeared to successfully exit the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday but then was later tracked back in the Persian Gulf. The Rich Starry, a chemical and crude oil carrier sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2023 for trading with Iran, was among more than a half-dozen vessels which attempted to cross the strait on the first day of the blockade.
On Tuesday morning, ship-tracking sites showed that the vessels had passed through the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman, appearing to defy U.S. warnings. At least four had come from stops at Iranian ports. But it became clear the evening that they had been intercepted by the U.S. military blockade in the Gulf and turned around.
A U.S. Navy destroyer stopped two oil tankers attempting to leave the Iranian port of Chabahar on Tuesday and instructed them to turn around, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The U.S. Central Command says it has deployed more than a dozen warships and hundreds of sailors to enforce the operation.
On Tuesday morning, ship-tracking sites showed that the vessels had passed through the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman, appearing to defy U.S. warnings. At least four had come from stops at Iranian ports. But it became clear the evening that they had been intercepted by the U.S. military blockade in the Gulf and turned around.
A U.S. Navy destroyer stopped two oil tankers attempting to leave the Iranian port of Chabahar on Tuesday and instructed them to turn around, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The U.S. Central Command says it has deployed more than a dozen warships and hundreds of sailors to enforce the operation.
Hmm, the blockade isn't a bluff, but I don't think the last card has been played yet. I expect an Iranian response soon...but I will bet on something asymmetric.
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From: Texas
For those of you who think that the blockade isn't working...well, here is a bit from Newsweek....
As with any blockade, one can expect a few blockade running attempts. Ops like this are a time, manpower, and resource drain over the long term.
Might want to sit back and watch it develop...at 15 knots.
The U.S. Navy says its blockade on Iranian ports has turned back six vessels in the first 24 hours of its operation, including a Chinese ship that appeared to successfully exit the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday but then was later tracked back in the Persian Gulf.
The Rich Starry, a chemical and crude oil carrier sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2023 for trading with Iran, was among more than a half-dozen vessels which attempted to cross the strait on the first day of the blockade.
On Tuesday morning, ship-tracking sites showed that the vessels had passed through the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman, appearing to defy U.S. warnings. At least four had come from stops at Iranian ports. But it became clear the evening that they had been intercepted by the U.S. military blockade in the Gulf and turned around.
A U.S. Navy destroyer stopped two oil tankers attempting to leave the Iranian port of Chabahar on Tuesday and instructed them to turn around, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
The U.S. Central Command says it has deployed more than a dozen warships and hundreds of sailors to enforce the operation.
The Rich Starry, a chemical and crude oil carrier sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2023 for trading with Iran, was among more than a half-dozen vessels which attempted to cross the strait on the first day of the blockade.
On Tuesday morning, ship-tracking sites showed that the vessels had passed through the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman, appearing to defy U.S. warnings. At least four had come from stops at Iranian ports. But it became clear the evening that they had been intercepted by the U.S. military blockade in the Gulf and turned around.
A U.S. Navy destroyer stopped two oil tankers attempting to leave the Iranian port of Chabahar on Tuesday and instructed them to turn around, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
The U.S. Central Command says it has deployed more than a dozen warships and hundreds of sailors to enforce the operation.
Might want to sit back and watch it develop...at 15 knots.
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From: Texas
OK, I took a look at the deployment to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan:
I'll need to find more info from regional experts to see if this is aimed at Iran, or at most a piece of 'signalling' to Iran.
Gut feeling: since Pakistan has tried to play honest broker in getting a cease fire agreed to between Iran and the US, I don't think that their deployment is directed at Iran.
Hangarless: if that estimate is accurate, the supply/demand case in CONUS is going to feel its impact which may do harm to such public support for the war with Iran as currently exists.
Originally Posted by The Hindu
A Pakistani military contingent comprising around 13,000 soldiers and 10 to 18 jets has reached Saudi Arabia as part of a joint strategic defence agreement signed last year, the Gulf Kingdom announced on Saturday (April 11, 2026). The military contingent’s deployment to King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Eastern Sector includes fighter jets and support aircraft from the Pakistan Air Force, according to a statement from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence.
Gut feeling: since Pakistan has tried to play honest broker in getting a cease fire agreed to between Iran and the US, I don't think that their deployment is directed at Iran.
Hangarless: if that estimate is accurate, the supply/demand case in CONUS is going to feel its impact which may do harm to such public support for the war with Iran as currently exists.
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From: Land of Oz
When I worked that part of the world I was told once by my boss: "When an Indian gets up in the morning, he will lie to you. When a Pakistani gets up in the morning, he will lie to himself."
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From: Mauritius,soon or latter
a coming Sunni Shia disagreement.
victory for away team* clean sheet, red card for host, and easily defendable 2 nil for possible second round.
Referee was corrrect, although VAR room may need some technical improvment.
All in all, nice Sunday matinee match.. Holiday for families and working class.
-
* Vatican
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From: aus
Most likely money KSA and PAK announced a defence agreement last year, part of it was 3 billion loan to pak. Spokesman from from KSA said initially they were disappointed with PAK lack of response when they were attacked. Both attempting to negoiate some agreement and deployment of troops look to be a response to that
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From: Yakima
Per LW:
What does the blockading country do if a vessel refuses to stop? Do they fire on them, a shot across the bow? They're certainly not going to sink them. Do they place a ship in front of them and dare the runner to ram? That would be a big game of chicken if it were a Chinese vessel.....
As with any blockade, one can expect a few blockade running attempts. Ops like this are a time, manpower, and resource drain over the long term.
Might want to sit back and watch it develop...at 15 knots.
Might want to sit back and watch it develop...at 15 knots.
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From: Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
I don't quite understand why this would be reported in Oz newspapers for 6 hours now, but no mention in PPR.
Has it not hit the U.S. / U.K. newsstands yet?
I know about time difference but but there are still comments (above) from long after this came out that seem oblivious to this snip.
Has it not hit the U.S. / U.K. newsstands yet?
I know about time difference but but there are still comments (above) from long after this came out that seem oblivious to this snip.
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From: surfing, watching for sharks
Per LW:
What does the blockading country do if a vessel refuses to stop? Do they fire on them, a shot across the bow? They're certainly not going to sink them. Do they place a ship in front of them and dare the runner to ram? That would be a big game of chicken if it were a Chinese vessel.....
What does the blockading country do if a vessel refuses to stop? Do they fire on them, a shot across the bow? They're certainly not going to sink them. Do they place a ship in front of them and dare the runner to ram? That would be a big game of chicken if it were a Chinese vessel.....
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From: Yakima
Well, that's really my question. If the U.S. military stopped and boarded a Chinese vessel in international waters how would the Chinese react? Not happily I would suspect, especially if WingNut60's post above is accurate.
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From: Yakima
I don't quite understand why this would be reported in Oz newspapers for 6 hours now, but no mention in PPR.
Has it not hit the U.S. / U.K. newsstands yet?
I know about time difference but but there are still comments (above) from long after this came out that seem oblivious to this snip.
Has it not hit the U.S. / U.K. newsstands yet?
I know about time difference but but there are still comments (above) from long after this came out that seem oblivious to this snip.
President Trump insisted Wednesday that he is “permanently” opening Iran’s Strait of Hormuz, saying that China was “happy” about the decision and, in exchange, Beijing would no longer send weapons to Tehran.
But his statement left a host of questions on what he means by opening the strait after he imposed a blockade on ships going to and from Iranian ports earlier this week. Iran had already significantly reduced traffic in the strait during the war.
“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also – And the World. This situation will never happen again,” Trump wrote Wednesday on Truth Social ahead of U.S. markets opening.
“They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well!” the president continued in the post.
The U.S. military, meanwhile, announced that it turned around six merchant vessels and “completely” halted trade from Iran’s ports
But his statement left a host of questions on what he means by opening the strait after he imposed a blockade on ships going to and from Iranian ports earlier this week. Iran had already significantly reduced traffic in the strait during the war.
“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also – And the World. This situation will never happen again,” Trump wrote Wednesday on Truth Social ahead of U.S. markets opening.
“They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well!” the president continued in the post.
The U.S. military, meanwhile, announced that it turned around six merchant vessels and “completely” halted trade from Iran’s ports
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From: Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
From The Hill about 12 hours ago https://thehill.com/homenews/adminis...it-china-iran/
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: Brisbane, Australia
For those of you who think that the blockade isn't working...well, here is a bit from Newsweek.... As with any blockade, one can expect a few blockade running attempts. Ops like this are a time, manpower, and resource drain over the long term.
Might want to sit back and watch it develop...at 15 knots.
Might want to sit back and watch it develop...at 15 knots.
In the trivial sense that the US Navy can turn around shipping that comes from, or is bound for, Iranian ports, of course the blockade is working, and I doubt many people expected otherwise - The US Navy is a fearsome adversary even for other navies, and certainly no lone commercial vessel is likely to challenge it.
But in the broader sense, the blockade is "working" only if the turning around of Iranian shipping is a step along a plausible path to the achievement of US strategic goals in the Gulf; And it remains unclear what those goals might be.
Regime Change seems an unlikely consequence of the blockade. Iran giving up her nuclear weapons program, and/or handing over her stocks of enriched uranium, likewise seems doubtful.
Even the re-opening of the Strait to all maritime traffic, seems to be in no obvious way made more likely by this blockade.
So, "is the blockade working?" is a tricky question, and the answer seems to be a superficial "yes", glossing over a more fundamental "no".
But again, it depends on what the strategic goals of the blockade are, and I am increasingly convinced that nobody in the Whitehouse knows. Which is something of an insult to the brave US sailors in theatre, who are doing a fine job of meeting their tactical objectives, and of carrying out their orders, despite a lack of strategic guidance from their CinC.
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From: The South
An Iranian academic interviewed on BBC Radio 4 last night, was asked if he thought that Iran would loose control of the Straights once an agreement was reached. He simply said "No" then went on to say that now they will definately keep control of it.
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From: Texas
Per LW:
What does the blockading country do if a vessel refuses to stop? Do they fire on them, a shot across the bow?
They're certainly not going to sink them.
Do they place a ship in front of them and dare the runner to ram? That would be a big game of chicken if it were a Chinese vessel.....
What does the blockading country do if a vessel refuses to stop? Do they fire on them, a shot across the bow?
They're certainly not going to sink them.
Do they place a ship in front of them and dare the runner to ram? That would be a big game of chicken if it were a Chinese vessel.....
Yes, that is what has happened before.
As to evading the blockade: it appears that this is already a thing...
Iran is moving tens of millions of barrels of oil through covert offshore networks to bypass the new U.S. blockade on its ports, maritime intelligence firm Windward AI says. The blockade, which took effect April 13, came amid a two-week ceasefire and failed peace talks between the U.S. and Iran, and as President Donald Trump insisted the waterway must remain open, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes. "Iranian oil distribution continues through indirect routing and offshore transfer networks," Windward told Fox News Digital.
"As of April 13, at least 11 tankers carrying approximately 20 million barrels of Iranian oil are positioned offshore Malaysia within a ship-to-ship transfer hub," the firm determined.
"As of April 13, at least 11 tankers carrying approximately 20 million barrels of Iranian oil are positioned offshore Malaysia within a ship-to-ship transfer hub," the firm determined.
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From: Rhone-Alpes
True. I had heard that within the last week or so some Pakistani military folks were deployed to Saudi in response to some of the attacks from Iran...will check on details later.
Plan. There may or may not be one. {I guess from the report that they did in deed turn around}
Hmm, the blockade isn't a bluff, but I don't think the last card has been played yet. I expect an Iranian response soon...but I will bet on something asymmetric.
Plan. There may or may not be one. {I guess from the report that they did in deed turn around}
Hmm, the blockade isn't a bluff, but I don't think the last card has been played yet. I expect an Iranian response soon...but I will bet on something asymmetric.
Last edited by Tartiflette Fan; 16th April 2026 at 17:26.
