Iran’s military on Tuesday warned one of the US navy’s biggest aircraft carriers, USS John C Stennis, to keep away from the Gulf, in an escalating showdown over Tehran’s nuclear drive that could pitch into armed confrontation.
“We advise and insist that this warship not return to its former base in the Persian Gulf,” said Brigadier General Ataollah Salehi, Iran’s armed forces chief.
“We don’t have the intention of repeating our warning, and we warn only once,” he was quoted as saying by the armed forces’ official website.
The ominous message came just after Iran said it could close the strategic oil shipping channel in the Strait of Hormuz if it felt threatened.
The White House brushed off the warning, with spokesman Jay Carney saying it “reflects the fact that Iran is in a position of weakness” as it struggles under international sanctions.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2012.
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The strait is more important for EU oil shipment than for the US. Very little oil for US passes through the strait. However, closing the strait will be the end of Iran as we know it for various global economic reasons. Saudi Arabia will be the first in line against Iran.
Yeah right -- the USA is going to give up it's primary offensive weapon in the Gulf because Iran threatens it. Not going to happen. It would appear that things are not going well on the home front for Iran -- they have jailed all the opposition - closed down free press - UN nuclear watch dogs are calling them liars - sanctions are hurting - and the Mullahs are looking for a distraction.
What's going on is a psychological warfare between Iran and the U.S. Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz for oil transport. It will lead to a surge in oil prices in this election year and a dive in popularity of the incumbents seeking for a second term. Iran will also be stewing in his own juice, as it depends on exporting oil to stay in power. Both camps have to keep a cool head. An armed conflict will be detrimental to the region and ultimately the world.
Whatever the US may do, if Iran decides to block the Strait of Hormuz it can easily do that. It will damage the world economy extensively but not for the long-term, not even for the medium-term. But that is not all. Iran will fall within a few days. So can the ruling group of Iran afford that ?
At the same time now the sanctions that US is imposing on Iran can potentially bring down the government there. So what will the Ayatollah and his supporters do ? The only respite is to get closer to your people. Somehow the Ayatollah's are failing to do that.
Am sure this plays well in PAK