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.
Threatening to block Gulf oil is one of the very good reasons to partition Iran.
A crescent shaped partition from northwest Iran to southeast Iran would take Iranian Kurdistan and give it to Iraqi Kurdistan to create a “greater Kurdistan”. The partition would continue South and take the Bushehr reactor, taking it out of the equation. Then further South into Arab Khuzestan, taking out most of Iran’s oil, and giving that area to Iraq. Finally to the southeast, taking mineral rich Iranian Baluchistan and giving it to Pakistan, to unite with Pakistani Baluchistan.
This would take away the money, oil, and mineral resources the Iranians would need to rebuild their nuclear weapons program, and it would cut them off from the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, so they could no longer menace much of the world’s oil supply.
The lands would be turned over to Kurdistan, Iraq and Pakistan, all of which could defend them if the Iranian military and IRGC were reduced from the air.
Iran would once again become just Persia, after losing its hated and powerless minorities. And though it might continue to have nuclear ambitions, it would be incapable of doing anything about them.
Either way this is going to be a real mess... If Israel strikes expect 10$ for gas.
Of course they do, they just don't fear the Wimp in charge, which currently seems to be Condi Rice and the Communist State Department(ours).
Actually OPEC itself is grounds for War. It is essentially a blockade, tho economic rather than physical. Same result.
He knows the score. He sees it coming.
I thought with all of the meetings and concerns between Israel and the U.S. that Iran would have been attacked a couple of years ago. Maybe we were trying to get more stability in Iraq first? It's tied up alot of Syria and Iran's terrorists who have gone to fight us in Iraq.
I agree with you about this statement though. It does seem to make an attack seem imminent.
Are the Iranians stupider now than before?
Did the previous excersie tell us anything about Iranian threats?
Don't know how the previous link went bad.
Let’s get this crap over with!
Attack now! Screw all these threats!
DUDE!
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.
Ol'Amanutjob better be careful because he might end up with no Country to lead and no virgins left!
Osama won't get to play this hand.
"...If I was a betting man, Id say before winter..."
Good bet - I'm betting on 'before-the-commie-convention' in Denver. It'll really draw the line-in-the-sand, so to speak ................... FRegards
This why we have military assets operating in this area.
We just came out and said that Iran would never block the Gulf. Iran better take it seriously. I’ll bet there are more than a few itching to wup some Republican Guard ass. US destroyer versus inflatables? Mr. RG meet Mr. Shark.
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