Iranian official: UN sanctions may lead us to seal off Persian Gulf

www.haaretz.com ^ | 09:26 24/01/2006 | Yossi Melman

[Esther Ruth]

Last update - 09:26 24/01/2006

Iranian official: UN sanctions may lead us to seal off Persian Gulf

By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent

A senior Iranian official threatened that Tehran may forcibly prevent oil export via the Straits of Hormuz if the UN imposed economic sanctions due to Iran's nuclear program, an Iranian news Web site said on Monday.

This is the first time an Iranian official makes military threats in a public statement on Tehran's recent disagreements with the West.

The news site, affiliated with the radical student movement in which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was once a member, quoted Mohammed-Nabi Rudaki, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.

[Esther Ruth]

excerpts..

According to the report, Rudaki said that "if Europe does not act wisely with the Iranian nuclear portfolio and it is referred to the UN Security Council and economic or air travel restrictions are imposed unjustly, we have the power to halt oil supply to the last drop from the shores of the Persian Gulf via the Straits of Hormuz."

25% of the world's oil production passes through the Straits of Hormuz, which connect the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean. The meaning of Rudaki's threat is that not only will Tehran stop its oil production from reaching the West, it may also use force to prevent the other oil prodoucers in the region (the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait) from exporting to the West.

Raduki also warned that his country might quit from its membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

[conservativecorner]

That is a laugh BUMP! We will decimate them when they try it.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

"Tehran may forcibly prevent oil export via the Straits of Hormuz"

good to know they have a sense of humor :)

[jdege]

I've often thought that Iran doesn't really need a navy.

How long would it take us to destroy every Iranian Navy vessel and coastal facility?

[southernerwithanattitude]

Yeah thats a GREAT idea! ha ha

[Westbrook]

Submarine bait.

Our boys of the deep have probably been waiting for an opportunity to impact the ME conflict.

This would present a great opportunity.

[Mr. Mojo]

U.S. Navy vs. Iranian Navy.

Let's just say I like our chances.

[silverleaf]

I believe our military maps now show this to be called the
"Arabian Gulf"

[NoClones]

How long would it take us to destroy every Iranian Navy vessel and coastal facility?

not long at all

[moasicwolf]

It should be interesting to observe the tactics, techniques, and procedures involved in shutting down the straights with the Iranian Navy consisting of approximately 20 patrols boats.

[MichaelP]

They do have cruise missiles which would be mortal dangers to tankers. They could shut operations for awhile. Insurers wouldn't underwrite tankers. We would prevail, of course, and it would mean war for Iran...

Mike

[penelopesire]

Don't forget their 'new' submarine......(grin)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1558420/posts

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I'll give odds. 100 to 1 anyone ?

[Mr. Mojo]

Off the board.

[VeniVidiVici]

It would give us an opening - and justification.

[silverleaf]

That would be the problem. If Iran declares the waters of the Gulf to be a "war Zone" then all bets are off for insurers of commercial shipping. A de facto barricade as effective as a physical one.

[loreldan]

Raduki also warned that his country might quit from its membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Wow! That's a big threat! They've been so faithful to those treaties. If they withdraw they may actually decide to make nuclear weapons!

[DogBarkTree]

seal off the Gulf and we'll seal off their wind pipes.

[conservativecorner]

It won't get to that point. We will rip them to shreds quicker than an insurance company can cancel a policy. It would be like fish in a barrel in today's military world.