US calls Iran’s threat of blocking major oil route - ‘Bluster’

Report By: Nina Rai

Washington, 28 Dec., 2011

The latest Iranian threat of closing off the world’s most crucial oil shipping passage has been pooh poohed by the United States as nothing but plain old ‘bluster.’

As tensions were mounting between Iran and the West, Tehran declared that it was making plans to close down the key Strait of Hormuz, as part of its military exercise.

This is against the fear of the West imposing more sanctions over its controversial nuclear energy program. The sanctions stem from UN watchdog report alleging that Iran may be developing nuclear weapons, a claim stoutly denied by Iranians.

Reportedly, Mohammad Reza Rahimi, Iran’s First Vice President declared that if the West enforces sanctions upon Iran’s oil exports, then they would ensure that not a single drop of oil would flow from the channel.

"Our enemies will give up on their plots against Iran only if we give them a firm and strong lesson," he added.

However, playing down the threat, State Department spokesman Mark Toner called it as nothing more than mere “bluster.”

According to Toner, this was just another attempt by Iran to draw attention away from the key issue, that of their habitual “non-compliance with international nuclear obligations,” he added.

It may be noted that nearly a third of all oil containers in ships goes through the four mile-wide Strait of Hormuz lying between Oman and Iran. American warships regularly patrol that segment to ensure safe passage of goods.

Majority of the crude exported from Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq – along-with most of the liquefied natural gas from main exporter Qatar is shipped through this Strait channel.

Source: Fox News

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