Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Threatens “OIL” Weapon

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, adjusts his scarf in Brujerd, Lorestan province, Iran, on Thursday March 9, 2006. The hardline president warned on Thursday that the West will suffer more than Iran if it takes action against its nuclear program, rejecting Iran’s referral to the U.N. Security Council as unjust.
ASSociated Press:Iran Threatens to Use Oil in Nuke Standoff

Iran threatened Saturday to use oil as a weapon if the U.N. Security Council imposes sanctions over its nuclear program.The nation’s interior minister raised the possibility of using Iran’s own oil and gas supplies and its position on a vital Persian Gulf oil route as weapons in the international standoff.

“If (they) politicize our nuclear case, we will use any means. We are rich in energy resources. We have control over the biggest and the most sensitive energy route of the world,” Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi was quoted as saying by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

1. There is NO CHANCE that the United Nations Security Council will immediately do ANYTHING.

2.There is NO CHANCE the United Nations will EVER impose sanctions on Iran for their nuclear program (China and Russia VETOES).

Iran is the No. 2 producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and has partial control over the narrow Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf. The strait is an essential passage for crude oil from key producers such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.

Pourmohammadi’s statements were the most specific yet â€” and the first explicitly targeting oil â€” in a series of threats levied by Iranian officials as the Security Council discusses what action to take over Iran’s nuclear program. Washington says Iran wants to produce atomic weapons. Iran denies that claim, saying it intends only to generate electricity.

“No means (for reprisals) will be ignored and we will not disregard any means,” said Pourmohammadi, who warned from the sideline of a Tehran city ceremony that Iran’s critics could be underestimating his country’s ability to strike back if sanctions are imposed.

“If they want to try other options, they have to be sure that our potential is not less than theirs,” he said.

Flap handicaps the following scenario:

1. The United Nations Security Council next week sends Iran a “warning.”

2. Iran ignores the warning and steps up the rhetoric and uranium enrichment.

3. The United States and some European Union members (probably Britain and France) initiate their own sanctions outside the United Nations process.

4. Iran begins a limited oil boycott by blocking/hassling oil tanker ships in the Strait of Hormu.
5. European and Asian countries affected by the Iranian oil boycott call on the United States to back down.

6. The United States and its NATO allies patrol the strait and WILL fire upon any targets blocking the flow of oil.

The Iranian response will be on how serious they want WAR.

Stay tuned…….