Chris Murphy, a Democratic senator from the United States Senate, provided a report on the economic and security situation in the region during his tour of Gulf countries. He met with senior officials from various countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, emphasizing that recent developments due to the war have had profound impacts on the security and economy of the United States.
Damage to the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh
Murphy announced in a video message that he personally visited the U.S. Embassy building in Riyadh, which has been damaged as a result of airstrikes. The senator described this damage as clear evidence of Donald Trump's, the former U.S. President, unpreparedness to manage regional crises. He warned that this situation could have serious consequences for American diplomats and citizens in the region.
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Significant Decrease in Tanker Passage through the Strait of Hormuz
Murphy further pointed to a significant reduction in the number of LNG tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Citing information received from one of the Middle Eastern energy ministers, he stated that before the war began, ten large tankers passed through the strait daily, but now this number has decreased to one or two. This significant reduction has increased maritime insurance costs from $100,000 a day to over $1 million.
Murphy described this situation as "a full-blown disaster for the U.S. economy" and emphasized the need for serious attention to this issue. In his opinion, this crisis could have heavy economic consequences for the country and increase pressure on Congress to expedite ceasefire negotiations with Iran.
Political Talks in Qatar and Saudi Arabia
During his trip to Qatar, the Democratic senator met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, to discuss regional political trends. He acknowledged Qatar's role in protecting U.S. interests and praised the country's efforts in resettling Afghan refugees. Additionally, Murphy highlighted Qatar's important role in facilitating the release of prisoners from Gaza and its mediation efforts to end the war with Iran.
In Riyadh, Murphy had a two-hour meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. In this meeting, he emphasized the need to open up space for freedom of expression and internal political dialogue. The senator also stressed the importance of Saudi participation in creating lasting peace and ending the war with Iran, calling for diverse opinions to be heard in the country.
Analysts believe that the disastrous dimensions of this conflict and the disclosure of damage to the U.S. Embassy will intensify congressional pressures on the White House to agree to a ceasefire. These developments could lead to changes in U.S. foreign policy.
