Monday, January 23, 2012

IRAN: "Definitely" Closing Strait Of Hormuz

Iran 'Definitely' Closing Strait Of Hormuz Over EU Oil Embargo

Tensions in the Gulf could reach a breaking point as a senior Iranian official said Iran would “definitely” close the Strait of Hormuz if an EU oil embargo disrupted the export of crude oil.

Mohammad Kossari, deputy head of parliament's foreign affairs and national security committee, issued the warning in respone to a decision by the European Union on Monday to impose an oil embargo on Iran over the country’s alleged nuclear weapons program.


Washington’s decision to deploy a second carrier strike group in the Gulf, the EU’s attempt to pressure Iran economically could greatly increase the likelihood of all-out war in the region.

If economic sanctions sufficiently pressure Iran to retaliate by closing down the Strait, nearly 20 per cent of worldwide oil trade would be impacted, resulting in a massive spike in global energy costs.

With over half a million regular forces and an additional 120,000 personnel in the country’s elite Revolutionary Guard, analysts believe the consequences of a US-led war against Iran would dwarf recent Western-backed military incursions the Middle East.


EU strategy of averting "chaos in the Middle East" by tightening the economic noose around Iran could spark the very conflagration it was ostensibly trying to avert.


European Union foreign ministers are today expected to announce an embargo on Iranian oil exports, amounting to the most significant package of sanctions yet agreed. They are also likely to impose a partial freeze on assets held by the Iranian Central Bank in the EU.

But USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered carrier capable of embarking 90 aircraft, passed through this channel and entered the Gulf without incident yesterday. HMS Argyll, a Type 23 frigate from the Royal Navy, was one of the escort vessels making up the carrier battle-group. A guided missile cruiser and two destroyers from the US Navy completed the flotilla, along with one warship from the French navy.

All three countries retain a permanent military presence in the Gulf, but a joint passage through the Strait of Hormuz by all of their respective navies is highly unusual. The flotilla will have passed within a few miles of the Iranian coastline.

Diplomats in Brussels said the EU foreign ministers would officially adopt the measures later Monday that were hashed out by the 27 ambassadors.

The measures include an immediate embargo on new contracts for crude oil and petroleum products while existing ones are allowed to run until July.

"I am confident that the EU will give a resolute answer today to Iran's refusal to fulfill its international obligations on the nuclear programme," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said ahead of the official adoption by the foreign ministers.

Any bid by Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Gulf, through which 20 per cent of the world's oil exports pass would be "illegal" and "unsuccessful", Mr Hague warned.


In an apparent show of strength, Washington is deploying a second carrier strike group in the Gulf. US officials also confirmed their commitment to maintaining a global fleet of 11 aircraft carriers despite budget pressure to cut the fleet's size.

“That’s the reason we maintain a presence in the Middle East,” AP cited US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, as saying in a speech to about 1,700 sailors aboard the USS Enterprise. “We want them to know that we are fully prepared to deal with any contingency and it’s better for them to try to deal with us through diplomacy.”

Panetta added that the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise is on course for the Persian Gulf – and will steam through the Strait of Hormuz in a direct message to Iran, AP reports.



13 comments:

Jec said...

Hey, Scott, I have really began thinking how close we really are to the rapture and the kind of consequences there would be if the S of H was closed. This would not be business as usual if this happened, but would cause mass economic collapse all around the globe. I think this would be the tipping point, but with scripture saying "as it was in the days of Noah", then I think it is more clear to me that the tipping point would be the Rapture. Which means we could be going home days from now if the Middle East storm clouds continue to darken. Wow!

Dave DU said...

Well this is the Enterprises final mission before being de-activated. What a way to go out; the possibilty of starting the next ME conflict.

50 years of service, what an honor. I just hope they don't show her "scrapping" on one of these Fox Tel documentaries.

Dave

Scott said...

Jec
Good point. There is another possibility - that the SOH is shut down for a few days or weeks, precipitating Iran using their proxies (Syria, Egypt etc) in a war against Israel, evolving into Isa 17 scenario.....

There are probably many more possibilities. This whole thing is so unpredictable at this point - but somehow I believe it will end up precipitating Isa 17

Jec said...

Council conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process

I found this interesting:
3. The EU stresses the central role of the Quartet and backs the Quartet process to reach an agreement between the parties not later than by the end of 2012. The EU fully supports the High Representative in her continued efforts to create a credible perspective for the re- launching of the peace process. The EU reiterates its support to the Arab Peace Initiative.

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/127466.pdf

Caver said...

Guess I'm the cynical one here. Oh well, not unusual.

My suspicion is that its going to be taken to the brink and then backed off.....and a lot of money lost and made in the various markets.

Its gonna go, for sure its gonna go....but I see a lot more brinkmanship between now and then.

I do concur that Isa 17 is the end result.

Dave, didn't realize this was the Enterprise's last deployment....she has been a grand old lady. Would hate to see anything but a dignified swan song for her.

Jec said...

Another representative appointed today!

Mideast:EU,Reinicke new special peace process representative

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/nations/israel/2012/01/23/visualizza_new.html_48818332.html

hartdawg said...

Caver....my thoughts exactly, you're not cynical,just realistic

Dave DU said...

Amen Caver!

Dave DU said...

Caver I remember watching a "doco" on foxtel and they showed the systematic slicing up of the USS Savanah. They showed the quarters and living areas where years of conversations, friendships and probably heart aches were experienced. I just found it disappointing that years of nostalgia can be chopped and diced and thrown out in less than a year.

Dave

Dylan said...

I agree that the rapture is the tipping point. High oil prices doesnt sound business as usual to me. It's looking less likely that we'll be here for I17.

Caver said...

Hi Anon,

Thanks for the link....very interesting, indeed.

I find it so ironic that here's this man that's been maneuvering for years and spent millions, if not billions, for this very purpose and here he is lamenting over the falling of our country. He's talking about the coming riots and breaking up of the country as if he's sorry and nostalgic. Shucks, he's one of the prime movers and shakers working for this end....and he has and will make billions in the process of taking us down.

Even knowing its biblically "in step" and prophetically necessary, my mind and heart are repulsed at his willingness and glee in being one of, if not the, catalyst working for this end.

Scott said...

I agree with Caver....Soros has been one of the prime movers in all that we see around us...His "lamenting" the demise of the US is.......(I'll refrain from using profanity, but it's probably warranted here :)

Mrs.C said...

We are in the "days of Noah"...it is evil that continues,grows, unaffected by death,wars, destruction etc.
His Word told us of these days, and we are now here, in them. This should be no surprise to us. :) There is nothing happening in the world today, that His Word didn’t already tell us would happen. All of it, natural disasters , evil running rampant, hardening of hearts (including “Christians”) etc.
In Matthew 24, Jesus is speaking to the Jewish people of the Tribulation about His Second Coming and the swiftness of His Judgment that is coming to them at that time. At the same time His Words have a duality, a heads up, so as to speak, for the Church, as Paul said, that we would not be ignorant of the “Seasons”. We are in that “Season”. What was it like in the "days of Noah". It wasnt everything going along as "normal" at all. Jesus referred us to His Fathers Words

Genesis 6:1-7

1.And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2.That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3.And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4.There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

5.And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6.And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7.And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Genesis 6:11-13

11.The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12.And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13.And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

God Bless!