The next phase of Middle East conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran could involve other countries or NATO members to demonstrate a united front against Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, says Canada’s former top diplomat. Peter MacKay, who served as former prime minister Stephen Harper’s first foreign affairs minister, told CTV News Channel on Thursday that “all options are on the table,” including NATO involvement, U.S. boots on the ground and other pressure avenues to end Iran’s blockade of the strait. About 20 per cent the world’s oil makes its way through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway 33 kilometres wide at its narrowest point. On Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand joined U.K.-led talks with more than 30 other nations to find a diplomatic resolution to reopening the strait. In the strait, Kharg Island acts a transit point, which MacKay calls “a strategic location for the Iranians to both refine and load oil products that are destined for countries like China and Russia.” MacKay suggested the U.S. may be thinking of putting marines on the island, which would be a major escalation in the conflict. Such an invasion would “have the effect of squeezing Iran from a further financial standpoint,” MacKay said, but warned such a move would put American military members further in harm’s way. MacKay, who served as foreign affairs minister between 2006 and 2007, said that sanctions alone would likely be insufficient to cause “the surrender of the Iranian regime,” despite that being what the U.S. and Israel are aiming for. “Frankly, we’ve seen attempts by all countries, including Canada, before to use sanctions as a means to correct the behaviour of Iran, and its been completely ignored,” he said. No major countries have directly aided with the strikes against Iran, although France and the U.K. have both provided some assistance. MacKay suggested that U.S. allies and NATO members who want the blockade to end, including Canada, could signal their determination by sending naval assets to the region. Canada timeline on Mideast conflict Since the U.S. and Israel first launched strikes on Tehran in late February, Canada’s position on the Middle East conflict has evolved:
