To the editor: Iran ought to suppose twice earlier than threatening tankers or closing the Strait of Hormuz (“Iran warns oil tankers to make use of accredited routes in Strait of Hormuz or face a ‘forceful response,’” July 2). An assault there wouldn’t merely disrupt oil markets; it might create an environmental disaster on Iran’s doorstep.
The world noticed this hazard within the 1991 Gulf Struggle, when retreating Iraqi forces set a whole lot of oil wells ablaze in Kuwait. The fires poisoned the air and contaminated land and water, inflicting huge financial and environmental injury for years.
A burning tanker or main spill close to Iran might devastate fisheries, kill marine life and seabirds, contaminate seashores and cripple coastal communities for years together with inflicting main financial injury. Iran wouldn’t be harming solely overseas delivery; it might be destroying a part of its personal shoreline.
America and its allies ought to defend lawful passage and impose critical penalties for assaults on civilian delivery.
Kenneth J. Mullinix, Newport Seaside
