Iran Takes a Tough Pose – US Can’t Tell Us What to do with Hormuz Strait

 

Stop Fundamentalism – An Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) commander told news media today that the Americans are not in a position or place to tell us whether or not we can close the Strait of Hormuz. 

“If our interests are threatened, we will reply with stronger threats and will not shy away from advancing our strategic aims,” said IRGC commander Hussein Salami today.

Salami’s tough words were a response to earlier US stance reported in the media that it will not accept Iran disrupting oil flow in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Anyone who threatens to disrupt freedom of navigation in an international strait is clearly outside the community of nations; any disruption will not be tolerated,” the Bahrain-based US 5th fleet said in an e-mail to Reuters.

Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important shipping routes for international supply of oil. 

Iranian Navy started a 10 day drill Saturday to show the capabilities of its navy.  The war game will enter various missile tests beginning tomorrow, said an Iranian Navy commander.

Iran has been under increasing international pressure to stop its nuclear program and allow the UN Atomic Energy Agency open hand to visit its nuclear sites.  Many suspect that Iran is developing nuclear weapons away from the eyes of the International community. 

To a question about a “contingency plan” in case Iran lowers oil production or closes the Strait of Hormuz in today’s State Department’s daily briefing, a department spokesperson replied, “The United States maintains a regular, full and robust dialogue with significant energy producing and consuming countries on various aspects of the oil markets, including contingency plans in the event of disruptions to those markets. We cannot, however, comment on the specifics of these discussions.”