Posted on 06/28/2008 6:36:04 AM PDT by John W
TEHERAN - Iran reiterated that it would block the oil export route in the Persian Gulf if attacked, a Teheran newspaper reported Saturday.
"It is understood that a country would use all possible options against an aggressor if militarily attacked. In that case, Iran would also intensify control of the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz," the commander of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards told Jam'e Jam daily.
General Mohammad Ali Jafari also warned neighbouring countries not to take part in any military strike plans against Iran.
The general made the statement in reference to reports that the United States and Israel might attack the main Iranian nuclear site in Natanz, central Iran, after the Islamic state once again refused to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.
In earlier statements, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned that the country would be justified in using all options in the event of an attack. He also had not ruled out blocking the Persian Gulf blockade and using controls on oil supplies as a weapon.
A major part of regional oil exports are piped through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and a blockade could trigger a worldwide energy crisis.
Jafari also warned Israel that the Jewish state was within the range of Iranian missiles and indicated that any Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites would be retaliated against by missile attacks.
Earlier this month, the Israeli air force held an exercise that US officials say appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Iran's medium-range Shahab-3 missile reportedly has a range of between 1,300 and 2,000 kilometres and is said to be able to reach any part of Israeli territory.
Unfortunately, they are betting that we have no resolve to support another skirmish in the region. They are gambling that we fear a war. A President Obama will pacify them.
Liberals always accuse us for going to war over oil. Maybe just once we can give validity to their little rant. Lets go attack Iran, get rid of their nukes, monkey and mullahs.
Then we take over their oil as payback for Iranian influence in killing fellow Americans all these past years.
Turn the liberal lies into truth....sweet irony that would be!
40% of world oil goes through the Straits of Hormuz.
Any blocking of those straits would constitute grounds for war.
They would have to wait for an Osama presidency - then BHO would sit down and talk with them - maybe even, send Madelene Albright or Jesse Jackson as a special envoy.
They tried this before -- Google "Operation Praying Mantis". The bottom line is the US sank the Iranian Navy, and they didn't do this again.
If the next President of the United States has a pair, they won't do this.
If the next President of the United States doesn't, and is going to respond by chain-smoking menthol cigarettes and put his thumb up his butt, we will have a problem.
The world economic effect would depend on how long oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is suspended. If a day to a week, the effect would be minimal. If a month it would begin to be serious. If longer than three months it would take years to restabilize. It all depends on how soon and how large the Navy can move to neutralize the threat.
I’d say they could, at best, block it for a day. Their navy considers a speedboat a warship. The biggest potential threat would be mining which should be relatively easy to detect and stop.
I’d say a pipeline to get oil out via a less dangerous waterway would be advisable, but it’s hard to think of a country to run it through that I’d want having more power. I wouldn’t even trust Turkey with that much additional power.
good, so we can clear out their ‘navy’ and see how they like having no ships to defend their ports
Good luck with your plans Iran. I’m pushing 50 and I’ll sign up to help defeat their plans. It’s either that or Dinty Moore Stew every day. We are fighting for our economic survival. The river is being dammed upstream by enemies.
We have airlines nearing collapse, laying off people, general malaise and discontent caused by other humans hoarding a resource. If it was water and we were dying from drought, we would have no qualms about taking steps to secure supplies.
After our nukes vaporize the Iraninan government, there will not be anything left to block the Gulf oil routes.
If they want to see how we live without oil, they can find out what it’s like to live without water.
Yes, the Iranians know what out military is capable of.
The Iranian bluster is for the benefit of the liberal news media who are their anti-American propaganda allies and their Sheeple readers who do not know.
Iranian frigate IS SAHAND (74) burns after being attacked by aircraft of Carrier Air Wing II from USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) on 18 April 1988
Is that before or after Obama dismantles our military and surrenders to terrorists around the world with the help of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the rest of the Liberal traitors???
Big mistake.
If I was a betting man, I’d say before winter.
If we had been expanding the drilling for oil here at home then Iran’s threats wouldn’t have as much weight.
Maybe, maybe not. Passive denial at choke points is easier than active defense. For instance, without deploying a single vessel, all the Iranians need to do is announce they mined the straits.
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