Iran stepped up its threats regarding the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday when the countries Revolutionary Guards began holding war games near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic Gulf oil tanker route that runs past the country.

Plans for the war games have been developing for weeks and come after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised the closure of the Strait of Hormuz should the U.S. or Israel attack Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

News of the war games also arrive at a time when Western forces have increased their presences in the Gulf, including the addition of American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

While Iran has promised to disrupt shipping to the strait where one-fifth of the world’s crude oil passes through the U.S. and its allies have promised to swiftly end the blockage should it occur and take action as necessary.

In a speech that broadcast throughout Iran on Friday Khamenei continued his hard line approach by promising to aid hard line national groups that challenge Israel while noting that military strikes would damage U.S. interests in the Middle East “10 times” more than they would hurt Iran. According to the Ayatollah:

 ”Iran will not withdraw. Then what happens?” asked Khamenei. “In conclusion, the West’s hegemony and threats will be discredited” in the Middle East. “The hegemony of Iran will be promoted. In fact, this will be in our service.”

Some experts believe that Khamenei’s threats include giving more power to proxy forces including Lebanon’s Islamic militant group Hezbollah which would in turn intensify attacks against Israel. The small nation has backed U.S. and European Union forces in asking for tougher sanctions against Iran and the countries oil exports which constitute 80% of Iran’s gross national product.

In the meantime U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta continued the U.S. stance that sanctions taken against Iran is still the best approach while adding that  ”all options on the table and would be prepared to respond if we have to.”

Do you think Iran would dare start a war against the U.S. , European Union, Israel and other allies who can cut off 80% of the countries revenue with swift and far reaching sanctions?

Iran Naval Forces Attempt To Flex Muscles, Stage More War Games Near Strait Of Hormuz is a post from: The Inquisitr

With tensions rising in the Persian Gulf the United States has begun to shift its military might into the region. Tensions between Iran and the United States have steadily risen as the US continues to pressure Iran into giving up their uranium enrichment program through the placement of strategic sanctions on the region.

Since pulling out of Iraq US military forces have raised troop numbers to nearly 15,000 in Kuwait and two aircraft carriers and their strike groups are now in the region.

As part of the shift the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division’s 1st Brigade, which shifted from Iraq to Kuwait has been designated a “mobile response force” for the region.

While the military’s movement comes just after Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz the call for more troops was actually requested last year by Central Command chief James Mattis,

In responding to requests for more information Pentagon officials say the troop increases in the region is not in preparation of war but rather an attempt to prepare for quick deployment of troops should Iran attempt to disrupt oil supply shipments throughout the strategic strait.

The troop increase comes only a short time after Iran Gen. Ataollah Salehi, head of Iran’s army, warned the John C. Stennis not to return to the Persian Gulf after the US aircraft carrier passed through the strait in early January. When that ship returns to the United States in the near future it will be replaced by the Enterprise.

On Thursday the Obama administration imposed sanctions on three companies that sell gasoline to Iran. While the country is the third-largest oil exporter in the world it doesn’t have oil refining capabilities and must therefore purchase gasoline from other countries.

US Military Increases Troop Presence In Persian Gulf After Iran Threatens Actions is a post from: The Inquisitr

A senior Iranian military official threatened on Tuesday to take action if the U.S. Navy doesn’t keep its aircraft carriers out of the Persian Gulf, according to a report by Reuters.

The warning came from Iranian army chief Ataollah Salehi in a statement to the IRNA network, a government-owned Iranian news agency. While neither Salehi or the U.S. government have said what aircraft carrier’s supposed trespass prompted the warning, Salehi warned to the agency that Iran’s military would take unspecified action if a U.S. aircraft carrier was found in the waters of the Persian Gulf again.

“Iran will not repeat its warning … the enemy’s carrier has been moved to the Sea of Oman because of our drill. I recommend and emphasize to the American carrier not to return to the Persian Gulf,” Salehi reportedly told the IRNA, as reported by Reuters.

“I advise, recommend and warn them (the Americans) over the return of this carrier to the Persian Gulf because we are not in the habit of warning more than once,” Salehi said.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been rapidly growing over the past month in light of recent sanctions from the U.S. and EU, which have taken a significant toll on Iran’s economy. Fears of sanctions targeting the nation’s oil sector have driven the currency down 40 percent against the dollar in the past month alone.

The regime warned last week that if the international community pursued sanctions of the nation’s oil industry, the nation would shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow corridor which upwards of one-third of the world’s oil is exported through.

Source: Reuters

[Image credit: AP/U.S. Navy]

Iran warns U.S. Navy to keep out of Persian Gulf is a post from: The Inquisitr

The United States and France warned Iran on Wednesday that closing the Strait of Hormuz would bring with it swift and direct punishment.

The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most strategic oil transit channel and follows along a narrow bend between Oman and Iran. The strait delivers oil to much of the world by way of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The Strait is also narrow at just 21   miles across with 2-mile wide navigable channels and a 2-mile-wide buffer zone on each side.

The Navy’s 5th Fleet spokeswoman Lt. Rebecca Rebarich said of Iran’s threat:

“Anyone who threatens to disrupt freedom of navigation in an international strait is clearly outside the community of nations; any disruption will not be tolerated.”

Rebarich’s comment comes after Iran’s naval commander, Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari said on Iranian State TV on Wednesday:

“Iran has total control over the strategic waterway,” and that “Closing the Strait of Hormuz is very easy for Iranian naval forces.”

Sayyari’s comment comes as the country engages in war comes throughout the Strait of Hormuz, games meant to demonstrate the countries dominance in the area.

Realizing the potential for disruption Lt. Rebarich revealed via email:

“The free flow of goods and services through the Strait of Hormuz is vital to regional and global prosperity,” and “Anyone who threatens to disrupt freedom of navigation in an international strait is clearly outside the community of nations; any disruption will not be tolerated.”

Furthering the U.S. threat against actions by Iran she noted:

“The U.S. Navy is a flexible, multi-capable force committed to regional security and stability, always ready to counter malevolent actions to ensure freedom of navigation.”

The United States wasn’t the only country to immediately call out Iran, officials in France also said they would aggressively protect the Strait of Hormuz. In a news briefing France’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero backed comments made by the US:

“The Strait of Hormuz is an international strait. As a result, all ships regardless of their nationality benefit from the right of transit in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international maritime customs.”

Habibollah Sayyari is the second top ranking Iranian official to claim control over the Strait, on Tuesday Iran’s vice president, Mohammad Reza-Rahimi threatened to close the strait if western powers “impose sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, then even one drop of oil cannot flow from the Strait of Hormuz.”

Analysts on the other hand have revealed that Iran simply lacks the needed Naval power to disrupt access to the strait. According to Reuters:

“Iran would not be able to sustain a line of ships to block the Strait because it mainly has smaller boats that do not have the ability to stay in open waters in a coordinated formation for days”

While Iran could launch missile and mine attacks and possibly suicide bomb attack via small boats analysts quickly point out that the countries weapons technology is really very little match for an oil supertanker, tankers that are even more resilient than warships.

The recent increase in threats by the Iranian nation come as both the United States and European Union have pressured the country into disbanding its nuclear program or face banking and other sanctions that could cripple the countries imports and exports. The force of those upcoming sanctions were realized last week when a Poland power company pulled out of talks with the country after four years of negotiations.

Iran’s biggest concern right now is that sanctions may be placed on Iran oil exports, one area not yet touched by international powers. The European Union has recently openly talked about such sanctions and President Obama is working on legislation that would impose sanctions on any country that buys Iran oil. Oil sanctions against Iran could potentially devastate the countries entire economic system, making it nearly impossible for the Iranian people and businesses to do business outside of the country. According to reports Iran exports 4 millions barrels of oil each day, approximately 80 percent of its public revenues.

While Iran continues to threaten world powers with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz oil traders have been less than impressed by the threats with oil selling below $100 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In the meantime it could be those lower gas prices that Iran is attempting to control through saber rattling meant to stir up the market. On the one hand closing the Strait of Hormuz would cut off a majority percentage of Iranian oil exports, on the other hand conflicts short of war could delay shipments of oil which in turn helps the country raise more capital through higher oil prices.

For now most analysts appear to agree on one thing, Iran doesn’t really want the United States and its allies to declare war on the nation, but a little bit of public conflict could help their economy.

Newsy.com provides further information:

Do you believe that Iran’s constant threats of action will bring the country to the brink of war with the United States and neighboring countries that find their attempts to control the region they surrounding troubling?

U.S. And France Threaten Iran Over Possible Hormuz Disruption is a post from: The Inquisitr

USS Hartford and USS New Orleans Collision

The USS Hartford and the USS New Orleans ran into each other during the early morning hours, at about 1 a.m. local time. Fifteen sailors from the Hartford are reported as “slightly injured.” They have all already returned to duty.

The Navy says the USS Hartford’s nuclear propulsion plant was not damaged. The USS New Orleans, however, suffered a “ruptured fuel tank.” Because of that, 25,000 gallons of diesel fuel marine were spilled.

Military officials say both ships were on their way into port when the collision happened. The submarine was underwater at the time. An investigation is now underway.

Both the USS Hartford and the USS New Orleans are being brought in for evaluation. Their exact locations are not being revealed because of security concerns.

The Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. It is a narrow passageway and is considered one of the most highly trafficked commercial routes for tankers carrying oil.

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USS Hartford, USS New Orleans Collide in Strait of Hormuz is a post from: The Inquisitr