U.S. And France Threaten Iran Over Possible Hormuz Disruption

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:

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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?