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Any Iranian attempt to close Gulf 'self-defeating': Pentagon
Washington (AFP) Aug 5, 2008 The Pentagon said Tuesday that any move by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz would be "self-defeating" because its weak economy is so heavily dependent on oil revenues. "Shutting down the Strait, closing down the Persian Gulf, would be sort of a self-defeating exercise," said Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary. "That doesn't say anything about whether we tolerate such a thing to happen." Morrell's comments came in response to a warning by the new head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards that Iran could easily close the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world's oil passes. General Mohammad Ali Jafari announced Monday that Iran has successfully tested an anti-ship missile with a range of 300 kilometers (180 miles.) "And given the equipment our armed forces have, an indefinite blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would be very easy," Jafari said on state television. Morrell argued, however, that Iran would be the first to be hurt if it closed the Gulf. "I don't think it is Iran's interest to shut down the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf, or attempt to do so," he told reporters. "They have a very weak economy at this point which depends almost entirely on their oil revenue," he said. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Iran again fails to give final nuclear reply: EU source
Brussels (AFP) Aug 5, 2008Iran promised in a letter Tuesday a final response to an offer from six world powers relating to its nuclear programme but said it first needed some clarifications about the proposals, an EU source said. |
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