Posted on 03/11/2006 10:21:47 AM PST by freedom44
Top News Story
Associated Press
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran threatened Saturday to use oil as a weapon if the UN Security Council imposes sanctions over its nuclear program.
The country's interior minister raised the possibility of using Iran's own oil and gas supplies and its position on a vital Persian Gulf oil route as weapons in the international standoff.
"If (they) politicize our nuclear case, we will use any means. We are rich in energy resources. We have control over the biggest and the most sensitive energy route of the world," Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi was quoted as saying by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.
Iran is the No. 2 producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and has partial control over the narrow Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. The strait is an essential passage for crude oil from key producers such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.
Pourmohammadi's statements were the most specific yet -- and the first explicitly targeting oil -- in a series of threats levied by Iranian officials as the Security Council discusses what action to take over Iran's nuclear program. Washington says Iran wants to produce atomic weapons. Iran denies that claim, saying it intends only to generate electricity.
Iran's hardline president warned Thursday that the West will suffer more than his country if it tries to block Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The top Iranian delegate to the UN atomic watchdog agency said a day earlier that the United States will face "harm and pain" if the Security Council becomes involved.
A Daily Briefing of Major News Stories on Iran:
If Iran uses oil as a weapon they may loose more than the US.
Any statements from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE about what they would do in response to a possible closure of the Persian Gulf by Iran?
send in the US fleet
Actually, we are already there
Do you know how many days of emergency reserves we have? I know the IAEA has about 600 days worth of reserves it can tap.
They have proximity rather than control. While they can allow commercial traffic simply by doing nothing, they can interrupt traffic for a few days until their use of force is neutralized. Such interruption would be important to world oil supply if it goes on more than a couple days. If it goes on a month it would have devastating consequences, so the process of neutralization would begin immediately and significantly.
No, sorry I don't. Iran though doesn't have refineries. If we embargo gas from them, they are in a load of hurt.
Ok, they can use oil, we will use our Military. I am going to be betting on US.
The US Navy will NEVER allow the two bit Iranian navy to close the Persian Gulf, that's a joke.
Bring it on you twobit towelhead, been waiting to mop the floor with your rags for a long time.
Wouldn't be all bad if Iran stops exporting oil - the sooner the West quits giving the mullahs billions for the stuff, the better off the world will be. Hope for a better future agains becomes realistic.
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”
You are correct in terms of Iran's Islamic fanatics building a large nuclear power infrastructure - but the current régime will not be around to implement such a policy.
They are on borrowed time. The required steps to take them down are already in motion.
I fully agree.
In a few years Iraq will start producing oil amounts similiar to what it once produced.
To read today’s thread click here.
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”
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