U.S. military officials warned Wednesday that any attempt by Iran to disrupt oil shipments at the mouth of the Persian Gulf "will not be tolerated," as Iran threatened for the second day in a row to interfere with the critical passageway.
Pentagon spokesman George Little describe the route, the Strait of Hormuz, as an "economic lifeline" vital to stability in the region. He said any attempt to block it would be "problematic."
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy's 5th fleet warned Iran against disrupting shipments in the strait, saying the U.S. Navy keeps a "robust presence in the region" and is "ready to counter malevolent actions to ensure freedom of navigation."
"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," Fleet spokeswoman Lt. Rebecca Rebarich said.
The warning comes as Iranian officials stand by earlier threats to use the passageway to retaliate if the West imposes new sanctions targeting Tehran's oil exports over the country's suspect nuclear program.
Iran's navy chief warned Wednesday that his country can close the waterway. "Closing the Strait of Hormuz is very easy for Iranian naval forces," Adm. Habibollah Sayyari told state-run Press TV. "Iran has comprehensive control over the strategic waterway."
On Tuesday, Vice President Mohamed Reza Rahimi also threatened to close the strait, cutting off oil exports, if the West imposes sanctions on Iran's oil shipments.
All of this comes at a tense time, as the Iranian navy carries out a 10-day naval exercise that includes dispatching warships and drones over the vital waterway. The exercises are being carried out on the eastern side of the strait and down into the Gulf of Aden and could put Iranian ships on a collision course with U.S. naval vessels.
Get ready, boys and girls. Iraq/Afghanistan was merely the undercard.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:23 pm
by dbackjon
Time-saver, too - just gotta replace the Q with a N on all the military forms.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:37 pm
by andy7171
Shouldn't it be the President issuing warnings like this?
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:37 pm
by Grizalltheway
Eh, they'll back down eventually. Ahmidinakjadflasdd is crazy, but I don't think he's THAT crazy.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:39 pm
by ∞∞∞
Just some more posturing by Iran. If they stop exporting oil, their own economy would cripple; it's a case of cutting your nose to spite your face. Also, China puts up with Iran's crap as long as it doesn't hurt them and a blockade would create higher oil prices, something that China is definitely not looking for right now (Russia on the other hand would enjoy it).
Plus, the US can destroy Iran's navy by lunchtime.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:40 pm
by AZGrizFan
∞∞∞ wrote:Just some more posturing by Iran. If they stop exporting oil, their own economy would cripple; it's a case of cutting your nose to spite your face. Also, China puts up with Iran's crap as long as it doesn't hurt them and a blockade would create higher oil prices, something that China is definitely not looking for right now (Russia on the other hand would enjoy it).
Plus, the US can destroy Iran's navy by lunchtime.
I didn't say it would be a LONG war.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:28 pm
by D1B
AZGrizFan wrote:
∞∞∞ wrote:Just some more posturing by Iran. If they stop exporting oil, their own economy would cripple; it's a case of cutting your nose to spite your face. Also, China puts up with Iran's crap as long as it doesn't hurt them and a blockade would create higher oil prices, something that China is definitely not looking for right now (Russia on the other hand would enjoy it).
Plus, the US can destroy Iran's navy by lunchtime.
I didn't say it would be a LONG war.
Iran:
Objective source of morality = Allah
Government = oppressive theocracy
Human Rights Record = atrocious, especially to women and minorities
Current UN Status = hostile, sanctioned
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:37 pm
by AZGrizFan
D1B wrote:
AZGrizFan wrote:
I didn't say it would be a LONG war.
Iran:
Objective source of morality = Allah
Government = oppressive theocracy
Human Rights Record = atrocious, especially to women and minorities
Current UN Status = hostile, sanctioned
Sounds like they're right up your alley, D.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:51 pm
by D1B
AZGrizFan wrote:
D1B wrote:
Iran:
Objective source of morality = Allah
Government = oppressive theocracy
Human Rights Record = atrocious, especially to women and minorities
Current UN Status = hostile, sanctioned
Sounds like they're right up your alley, D.
I'm hostile to warmongers like you.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 4:04 pm
by travelinman67
Grizalltheway wrote:Eh, they'll back down eventually. Ahmidinakjadflasdd is crazy, but I don't think he's THAT crazy.
...you never know...
[youtube][/youtube]
War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 6:58 pm
by EWURanger
Won't happen, although they are really pushing the envelope with this one. I say let 'em blockade it and let the Europeans deal with it for once. We're a little busy.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 8:05 pm
by Seahawks08
Eh, they'll back down eventually. Ahmidinakjadflasdd is crazy, but I don't think he's THAT crazy.
He's not the one making the final decision though. That honor goes to the ayatollah.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 9:46 pm
by TwinTownBisonFan
Sabre rattling to try and rally the country to the flag... they're facing a threat from within - their own younger generation has turned against them and it's destabilizing their regime... they've got to do something to try to win the populace back...
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:00 pm
by BlueHen86
TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Sabre rattling to try and rally the country to the flag... they're facing a threat from within - their own younger generation has turned against them and it's destabilizing their regime... they've got to do something to try to win the populace back...
That's probably it, in which case I doubt they'll escalate to the point where shots are fired.
If they do, I think we can fuck them up real bad and if we're smart we won't invade. Take out their Navy, Air Force and Nuclear Facilities. They might be able to bloody our nose, but the fight is over real quick and we aren't bogged down like we were in Iraq.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:16 pm
by GrizFanStuckInUtah
EWURanger wrote:Won't happen, although they are really pushing the envelope with this one. I say let 'em blockade it and let the Europeans deal with it for once. We're a little busy.
The problem is, they are just like Democrats. They love to sit back, do nothing and bitch when things don't work out the way they want. That strategy didn't work to well for us in WW2 either.
TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Sabre rattling to try and rally the country to the flag... they're facing a threat from within - their own younger generation has turned against them and it's destabilizing their regime... they've got to do something to try to win the populace back...
A lot of truth in there I think. All we have to do is draw the line and not move it if they cross it. Walk soflty and carry a big stick, or something like that Countries and leaders like this are like children, always pushing their boundaries and seeing what they can get a way with. I don't mind us being the HEAVY parent and knocking their dicks in the dirt.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 11:22 pm
by BlueHen86
GrizFanStuckInUtah wrote:
EWURanger wrote:Won't happen, although they are really pushing the envelope with this one. I say let 'em blockade it and let the Europeans deal with it for once. We're a little busy.
The problem is, they are just like Democrats. They love to sit back, do nothing and bitch when things don't work out the way they want. That strategy didn't work to well for us in WW2 either.
TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Sabre rattling to try and rally the country to the flag... they're facing a threat from within - their own younger generation has turned against them and it's destabilizing their regime... they've got to do something to try to win the populace back...
A lot of truth in there I think. All we have to do is draw the line and not move it if they cross it. Walk soflty and carry a big stick, or something like that Countries and leaders like this are like children, always pushing their boundaries and seeing what they can get a way with. I don't mind us being the HEAVY parent and knocking their dicks in the dirt.
Europe is more like the GOP. Everyone has their own agenda and they are too divided to get anything done.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 7:04 am
by CAA Flagship
There are at least three carriers currently docked in Norfolk right now. Iran probably knows this and wants to make us scramble.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 7:44 am
by LeadBolt
I agree with much of what has already been said, they are saber rattling to achieve several objectives, lessen internal dissent is one, keep the price of oil up and their exports flowing out to maintain their economy is another, save face at home vis-a-vis external forces such as the UN is another.
The problem is that we don't understand their thought process and they don't understand ours, in much the same way that led Saddam Hussein to increase his hostile rhetoric, throw out weapons inspectors and increase hostile posturing before we invaded Iraq rather than make conciliatory noises and gestures that might have forestalled or eliminated an invasion.
An example is our having a female Lt. issue the warning statement. We view that as toning down the rhetoric to keep things from escalating, they will view it as a sign of weakness, lack of resolve and division, giving them an opening to exploit.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 8:32 am
by kalm
GrizFanStuckInUtah wrote:
EWURanger wrote:Won't happen, although they are really pushing the envelope with this one. I say let 'em blockade it and let the Europeans deal with it for once. We're a little busy.
The problem is, they are just like Democrats. They love to sit back, do nothing and bitch when things don't work out the way they want. That strategy didn't work to well for us in WW2 either.
TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Sabre rattling to try and rally the country to the flag... they're facing a threat from within - their own younger generation has turned against them and it's destabilizing their regime... they've got to do something to try to win the populace back...
A lot of truth in there I think. All we have to do is draw the line and not move it if they cross it. Walk soflty and carry a big stick, or something like that Countries and leaders like this are like children, always pushing their boundaries and seeing what they can get a way with. I don't mind us being the HEAVY parent and knocking their dicks in the dirt.
Umm, check Obama's or LBJ's foreign policy versus a Pat Buchanon or Ron Paul.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 9:46 am
by andy7171
Wasn't the Iranian Navy sailing to Cuba a couple months ago? When did they head back?
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 5:36 pm
by houndawg
Might as well, we're going to be next door for a long time "protecting" those strategic metals.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:11 pm
by AZGrizFan
houndawg wrote:Might as well, we're going to be next door for a long time "protecting" those strategic metals.
Interesting theory. Youdathunk only CONKS did that kind of shit, were you to only read THIS board.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:33 am
by CID1990
Much ado about nothing. Iran has made these threats before, in fact numerous times, and they have never once followed through. They are just making noise over the new sanctions being proposed. Closing the strait will be as damaging to Iran as anyone economically, plus Iran would essentially lose their navy if they tried it. Lose-lose for Iran, and they know it.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:35 am
by CitadelGrad
andy7171 wrote:Wasn't the Iranian Navy sailing to Cuba a couple months ago? When did they head back?
Cut them some slack. They're rowing as fast as they can.
Re: War with Iran?
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 5:16 pm
by BlueHen86
CitadelGrad wrote:
andy7171 wrote:Wasn't the Iranian Navy sailing to Cuba a couple months ago? When did they head back?
Cut them some slack. They're rowing as fast as they can.
Countries and leaders like this are like children, always pushing their boundaries and seeing what they can get a way with. I don't mind us being the HEAVY parent and knocking their dicks in the dirt. 
