What nonsense. AP, carrying the anti American flag, once again.
We control that strait, even if they decide to lose all of their assets in the area by fooling with the US.
As far as Iran stopping oil, other countries will pick up some of the slack and our strategic reserves are enough to allow quite a bit of time to end Iran.
Iran is probably just playing the traders to drive up the price.
"Iran is probably just playing the traders to drive up the price."
I was thinking the same thing. Maybe they want another 50 billion more in oil profits to subsidize keeping the population down from revolt. Just when it looks like we will attack at the final 'ultimatum' from the coalition of the willing, they back down and allow inspectors in. Meanwhile, the US population gets to be broke for a year while the politicians look great for keeping the peace.
Iran can shut down the strait of Hormuz any time it wants to, and there's little we can do about it. Launch a couple of Silkworm missiles at tankers, drop a few mines in the water and nobody will be able to get insurance. No insurance, no shipping. We weren't able to find all of Saddam's Scuds in GWI, and we wouldn't be able to find all of Iran's Silkworms.
If we get into a conflict with Iran, it will not be cheap, and those who think otherwise are deluding themselves. I'm not saying we should acquiesce to Iranian nuclear ambitions, but let's at least realistic about what stopping them is going to involve.