Iran threatens to close Hormuz

Iran and United States raised the tone yesterday Thursday following threats Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, a channel strategic oil world traffic, while ships of both countries marching through the region.

General Hassan Salami, the second in the hierarchy of the revolutionary guards (tropa de elite of the Iranian army), yesterday rejected the United States alerts against the closure of the Strait, and noted that Iran will act with determination "to defend its vital interests".

Tensions accentuated after that the Tehran Government said that an American carrier had crossed the Strait of Hormuz "from the Persian Gulf in direction of Oman", in the area of naval exercises Iran began Saturday.

Strait, through which passes between a third and 40% of global oil shipping, is particularly vulnerable on account of its extension of just 50 miles, and u000aits shallow, that does not exceed the 60 meters. In addition to Iran, second largest world producer of OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates exporting part of its oil through the Strait.

On Tuesday, the Iranian Vice-President Muamad Reza Rahimi said will that "not a drop of oil transit the Strait of Hormuz" If Western countries adopt sanctions against Iranian oil exports following its nuclear program.

Afterwards, the Commander of the Iranian Navy, Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, added that it would be "very easy" for Iran close the Strait.

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