Posted on 07/07/2018 7:22:25 AM PDT by artichokegrower
Highlights
Facing the imminent reinstatement of U.S. oil sanctions, Iran is threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, which would shut down the region's oil trade. Iran has made this threat before and has never followed through, since actually shutting down the strait would be a drastic and damaging move for the country. The tough rhetoric is more than likely to be followed up by more mild retaliation attempts, such as the harassment of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Likely, the faltering Iranian leadership needs a “Look, Squirrel” moment, and to do some saber rattling to change the subject of the Iranian masses rising up because their country sucks.
>>Iran is threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz<<
Yeah.
Good luck with that with a real man as POTUS.
The problem is that simply sinking a ship or two in the Strait is enough to block it for some time.
Nice little country you got there Mr. Ayatollah. Sure hate to see something happen to it.
5.56mm
Trump should let Iran know that if it sends so much as a rowboat into the Straight of Hormuz, he will completely obliterate what Iran calls their “navy!” We need some real retribution for what Iran did to our sailors under Obola.
Trump is looking forward to reopening it, courtesy of the US Navy.
If it were to happen I say let the rest of the world deal with it for awhile. They need our ass and will never admit it.
Not so much a hazard to navigation, as the absence of insurance in the face of real peril. Underwriters explicitly exclude acts of war. Watch for more foreign owned vessels being registered in the U.S., and flying the America flag. Best maritime insurance in the world.
Art of the deal
I've heard that making things go all 'splodey also makes them get smaller....We don't really have to have the Science Guy explain that to Iran, do we?
1:35 mark
How is that? It's 20 miles wide. Is it shallow or something?
meh...
Iranians threaten the Strait of Hormuz every few years.
Since the Strait is conduit for a huge percent of the world’s oil, almost all nations with a navy, including China, quietly threaten regime change in Tehran for doing so. Israel would also be particularly unforgiving.
This threat has been an annual event for the past 30+ years hasn’t it?
My understanding is that the navigation channels are sufficiently shallow that this tactic would work.
Shipping lanes are about six miles wide, so it would take a lot more than a ship or two, but certainly could be blocked for some period of time with mines and suicide boats.
This
And replacing the name “ Persian Gulf” with “ Arabian Gulf”
If Tehran wants the US to leave them alone, all they have to do is pledge they will accept only US Dollars for their oil.
It will also be helpful to settle most of their other bilateral trade in USD, regardless of the trading partner.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.