Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Won’t Rule Out Using Oil as a Weapon

An Iranian pumps gasoline into his motorbike at a gas station in Tehran, 2006. Iran has refused to rule out using oil supplies as a weapon in the standoff over its nuclear programme, saying Washington had never excluded attacking the Islamic republic.

Iran says won’t rule out using oil as a weapon

Iran will not rule out using oil as a weapon if the United States resorts to military action against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program, an Iranian oil official said in remarks published on Tuesday.

“When the Americans say that military action in regard to the nuclear issue has not been put aside, Iran can also say that it will not put aside oil as a tool,” Iran’s OPEC governor, Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, told Iran’s Sharq newspaper.

Washington says it wants a diplomatic end to a row over Iran’s nuclear ambitions but has not ruled out force if that route fails. Iranian officials say they do not want to use oil as a weapon but have also said they might do so if pushed.

The United States accuses Iran of seeking to build atomic bombs, a charge Tehran denies.
“We will not start using this tool (of oil) but if others use their tools that they have not put aside to put pressure on negotiations, it is natural that the two sides would discuss all their tools,” Kazempour Ardebili said.

And this changes what?

In any military conflict the United States would expect that Iranian small boats to attack oil tankers and block the Gulf.

Of course, the United States would seize Iran’s Gulf oil fields and bomb its gasoline refineries.

After a number of days the United States would clear the Gulf and Iran would have NO gasoline for the foreseeable future.

Oil flow may be impacted for a week or more, but Iran’s economy would grind to a halt as would its military ground forces since they would have no gasoline for transport.

This is an idle threat.

Previous:

Iran Nuclear Watch: Lieberman Repeats Call for Military Action Against Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Lieberman – “Aggressive Military Action” Against Iran

Michael Ramirez on Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahamdinejad – TOO LATE to Stop Iran’s Nuclear Program

Cox & Forkum: G-8 Party Crasher

Iran Nuclear Watch: COUNTDOWN to Israel’s End

Iran Nuclear Watch: Condoleezza Rice – NO War Plans Against Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Promises to Discuss Nuclear Activities

Iran Nuclear Watch: Rice Warns Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ali Larijani – Suspension of Uranium Enrichment is Not Acceptable at All

The Iran Nuclear Files

The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.

Technorati Tags: Iran, Israel, Ahmadinejad