Common sense and fair access keep gulf shipping channels open

Iran: “common sense” can keep oil route open
23 July, 2012 – Al Akhbar

Iran would not close the Strait of Hormuz as long as it is able to use the vital shipping line itself, a military commander was quoted as saying on Monday, moderating threats by politicians to block the waterway as retaliation for sanctions.

“The enemies constantly state that the Islamic Republic of Iran intends to close the Strait of Hormuz but we say that common sense does not dictate that Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz as long as it makes use of it,” said Alireza Tangsiri, deputy naval commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, state news agency IRNA reported.

Iranian politicians and officials have often said Iran could block the strait – the neck of the Gulf through which 40 percent of the world’s seaborne oil exports passes – in response to sanctions or military action.

They have demanded the US and the European Union abandon crippling sanctions that are aimed at forcing the country to abandon its anti-American policies.

Any attempt to block the strait would risk a military response from the United States and Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told Reuters earlier this month Iran was unlikely to follow through on the threat unless its own vessels were denied use of the strait.

Iran’s parliament is debating a bill recommending the strait be closed in retaliation to a European Union embargo on Iranian oil which came into full effect this month. …more