Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Iran says Gulf oil route at risk if attacked

UPDATE: "They will not close it"- U.S. Fifth Fleet

Still clearing out the feed-readers, this is Saturday's. From Reuters:
The Revolutionary Guards said Iran would impose controls on shipping in the vital Gulf oil route if Iran was attacked and warned regional states of reprisals if they took part, a newspaper reported on Saturday....MORE


From Bloomberg:
...Hormuz Strait

The U.S. won't allow Iran to shut the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 40 percent of Middle East oil is shipped, a spokesman for the Fifth Fleet said yesterday. Among the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries only Saudi Arabia produces more than Iran.

``They will not close it,'' Lieutenant Nate Christensen said in a telephone interview yesterday from Bahrain, where the fleet is based. ``The Strait of Hormuz is vital international waters.''

The fleet's comments were in response to remarks by the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard two days ago that his country may close the strait if attacked by Israel....