Posted July 10th from wnd.com
BEIRUT, Lebanon – The Iranian parliament, or Majlis, is considering legislation to require the government to block the Strait of Hormuz to tankers shipping oil and liquefied natural gas to countries which support sanctions against Iran, says a report inJoseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.
According to an Iranian foreign-ministry official, the government not only welcomes the legislation but is waiting for its passage so that it can be immediately implemented.
However, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi said the Strait would not be closed unless “the country’s interests are put in danger.”
Meantime, the U.S. Defense Department announced that another U.S. warship, the U.S.S. Ponce, has been added to the Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain. It is a mine countermeasures ship. It will operate in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.
In addition, the U.S. is increasing troop strength at U.S. bases across the region in what is referred to as a “lily pad” model that will enable rapid deployment of military forces where there is a flash crisis.
Iranian legislation to authorize closing the Strait came after European Union countries joined the United States in imposing the latest round of even more rigorous sanctions which went into effect July 1 to ban the import of Iranian oil. This sanction is on top of others which include banning any Iranian central bank business.
Iranian lawmakers had warned that Iran would shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf if sanctions against the Islamic republic increase. The proposed legislation would order the Strait shut down to tankers from countries that support the increased sanctions. (read more)
