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.
Has Mr Jafari consulted with the Fifth Fleet on his plans to block the gulf, yet?
Without their consent, he will have difficulty enacting his plan.
And somehow he actually thinks we would not do the same if a blockade was attempted?
I wonder how his "all options" stack up against our "all options."
Blocking the Strait of Hormuz sounds easier than it would be.
It’s not a canal.
You could block it for awhile with a naval force and artillery, but both of those can be taken out by superior forces.
Blocking the Strait of Hormuz would probably make China and India unhappy in addition to the usual oil buyers.
Do these guys have no idea what out military is capable of??
This is the reason why we have to drill and use alternative energy sources,this guy wouldn’t dare say this if they didn’t have the world in bondage over oil! We have done nothing in 30 years and our government should all be fired!
They made this same threat in the 80’s. My fellow squids and I, and the gyrenes showed up in force and they blinked. When they did later give it a try we sunk a substantial portion of their Navy, in a few hours.
I hope they try again, because I still hold a grudge against these kidnapping, dirt-worshipping primitives. Islam sucks.
Somehow I’m reminded of the scene in Blazing Saddles where
the sheriff holds a gun to his head and says, “Anybody move
and the Sheriff gets it.”
Does Amadinijad think he can blockade the gulf while his tankers continue to travel freely? I got news for him.
What if we WANT to blockade the gulf?
All we have to do is launch some attack against Iran and they will do it for us. Hahahaha.
a blockade could trigger a worldwide energy crisis.
Which just might be enough to wake up the world to find
alternative ways to power our economies.
If Iran can’t ship crude, how are they going to get fuel
for their tanks etc.
.....General Mohammad Ali Jafari also warned neighbouring countries......
He knows the score. He sees it coming.
The Coalition Of The Threatened will play a major role in removing the General from power once the war begins. We have not been provided with the method of initial attack, but should be able to make out the outlines of the destruction of Iranian capabilities once it actually starts.
Watch deployment of US naval forces in the Gulf for an indication of an imminent Israeli attack on Iran.
Good analysis! Kudos!
Israel's strike on Iran's oil refineries will block Iran's flow of oil and cripple their economy.
There must have been something lost in the translation.
“DO WHAT HE SAY-ES...DO WHAT HE SAY-ES”
I'm sure they do. However, they are counting on an "Obama" military that would be very different from a Bush military or McCain military.
With all due respect, FRiend, that attitude is part of the problem.
(1) "done nothing" is completely untrue.
Drive through West Texas, Oklahoma etc and you will see BOOMING oil production ON PRIVATE LAND. New wells left and right. Additionally, the Barnett shale around Ft Worth is being hammered so hard, that they are drilling in the PARKING LOTS of the University of Texas at Arlington for natural gas!
Not to mention the Bakken fields and elsewhere, IOW ....supply has kept up with demand.
(2) "Done nothing" is greatly preferred to the "we" you imply when you say "our government should all be fired!" The less "our government" meddles, the better off we'll be. ANWR and "public land" drilling just gives the congress an addicting taste of PEMEX and nationalized oil. When the Feds start basking in the royalties off those wells, hell, why not nationalize the private ones?
The best we can hope from the federal government is to ease permitting for refineries and such, and the first one in 30 years was just approved in the Dakotas...but I'd gladly pay taxes to keep congress in a nice salary if they'd just promise to go on vacation and do NO MORE HARM.
Sounds like Vince Flynn’s “Protect and Defend”.
Is he going to block it w/his navy on the bottom of the gulf? If you like $5/gal, Thank Congress. If you want $10/gal, Vote Obama.
Pray for W and Our Troops
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