US Navy Will Not Tolerate Iran Closing Hormuz Strait
Local Editor
The United States has warned that "it will not tolerate any attempt by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow sea lane on which the world's oil supply depends."
"This is not just an important issue for security and stability in the region, but is an economic lifeline for countries in the Gulf, to include Iran,'' George Little, Pentagon press secretary, said on Wednesday.
"Interference with the transit or passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz will not be tolerated," he added.
On her part, the spokeswoman for the US Navy's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet said that "The free flow of goods and services through the Strait of Hormuz is vital to regional and global prosperity," adding "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 US remarks come after Mohammed Reza Rahimi, Iran's vice-president, told state media on Tuesday "If sanctions are adopted against Iranian oil, not a drop of oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz."
Stressing that "the Islamic Republic has no desire for hostilities or violence," the Iranian official noted that "the West doesn't want to go back on its plan to impose sanctions."
"Our enemies will give up on their plots against Iran only if we give them a firm and strong lesson," Rahimi said.
In addition, Admiral Habibollah Sayari, commander of the Iranian navy, said that closing the Strait, and effectively strangling the global oil supply, would "be easier than drinking a glass of water".
It's worth mentioning that about 15.5 million barrels of oil a day, or a sixth of global consumption, passes through the 6.4km wide Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.
The United States has warned that "it will not tolerate any attempt by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow sea lane on which the world's oil supply depends."
"This is not just an important issue for security and stability in the region, but is an economic lifeline for countries in the Gulf, to include Iran,'' George Little, Pentagon press secretary, said on Wednesday.
"Interference with the transit or passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz will not be tolerated," he added.
On her part, the spokeswoman for the US Navy's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet said that "The free flow of goods and services through the Strait of Hormuz is vital to regional and global prosperity," adding "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 US remarks come after Mohammed Reza Rahimi, Iran's vice-president, told state media on Tuesday "If sanctions are adopted against Iranian oil, not a drop of oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz."
Stressing that "the Islamic Republic has no desire for hostilities or violence," the Iranian official noted that "the West doesn't want to go back on its plan to impose sanctions."
"Our enemies will give up on their plots against Iran only if we give them a firm and strong lesson," Rahimi said.
In addition, Admiral Habibollah Sayari, commander of the Iranian navy, said that closing the Strait, and effectively strangling the global oil supply, would "be easier than drinking a glass of water".
It's worth mentioning that about 15.5 million barrels of oil a day, or a sixth of global consumption, passes through the 6.4km wide Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Just hours after the Iranian threat was issued, oil prices rose above $100 a barrel in trading.
Prominent US analysts said that if Iran did manage to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, the ensuing spike in oil prices could wreck the global economy.
Source: News Agencies
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