Tag: Iran

Any attempt to close the oil lanes is likely to lead to a major conflict The last time Iran tried to close the Strait of Hormuz, the trade artery linking the oil-rich Gulf states to the outside world, the Revolutionary Guards had only a few rubber dinghies and primitive mines to achieve their goals. Next time, they will be far better prepared.For the ayatollahs, the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and the tiny sheikdoms of the Gulf, has become a national obsession in their long-standing confrontation with the West. They know that, for all their long-held nuclear ambitions, they will never be able to match America's military supremacy.Even if they were to develop the know-how to fit a nuclear warhead to a ballistic missile, the odds are that the weapon would be shot down the moment it left its launch pad by one of the hundreds of anti-missile batteries the US has deployed around the Gulf region in anticipation of just such an eventuality.So far as the ayatollahs are concerned, a far more effective way of attacking the West would be to place a stranglehold on their economies. As General Sir David Richards, the head of Britain's Armed ...

Iran escalated its war of words with the United States Iran escalated its war of words with the United States on Tuesday with a warning to Navy ships to stay out of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, remarks that rattled commodities markets and helped send oil prices soaring.The latest in a series of provocative statements by Iranian leaders was delivered by the Iranian armed forces commander, Gen. Ataollah Salehi, who appeared to threaten a U.S. aircraft carrier that steamed out of Persian Gulf waters last week."We warn this ship, which is considered a threat to us, not to come back, and we do not repeat our words twice," Salehi said, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency.The Obama administration brushed aside the threat, but the increasingly bellicose tone - coupled with new economic sanctions on Iran expected to take effect in the coming weeks - helped cause the price of oil to jump more than 4 percent during a day of upbeat economic news. Gold markets closed at their highest level in 10 weeks.The threat against U.S. ships was the latest in a series of aggressive moves by Iran, which within a week has tested new missiles, boasted of breakthroughs ...

A long-running dispute could undermine confidence A freight transportation analyst is warning escalating tensions between Iran and the United States over the Strait of Hormuz could undermine global supply chains in the near term and shipping development in the Middle East in the long term.London-based Transport Intelligence noted in a report Wednesday the strait not only is a transit point for large numbers of oil tankers and container ships, but that Dubai, the world's ninth-largest port, sits adjacent to the waters."Of more immediate concern to supply chains will be the impact of the war of words on global oil markets," John Manners-Bell said in a briefing report by the trade and transportation analysts."The possibility of the closure of the strait, which acts as a transit for 17 million barrels of oil a day, has been a factor in the rising oil price over recent weeks, despite the weak economic environment. The last thing at the moment that the world's fragile economy needs is a new confrontation in the Middle East.The United States has deployed an aircraft carrier into the region as part of the U.S. and EU stated goal of blocking Iran's oil exports under sanctions imposed as a result ...

Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that Iran will do anything to preserve the security of the area Iran's defense minister on Wednesday stressed his country's warning against the U.S. navy presence in the Gulf, reinforcing a threat dismissed by Washington as a sign of "weakness" by Tehran."Iran will do anything to preserve the security of the Strait of Hormuz" at the entrance to the Gulf, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said, according to the website of Iran's state television."The presence of forces from beyond the (Gulf) region has no result but turbulence. We have said the presence of forces from beyond the region in the Persian Gulf is not needed and is harmful," he was quoted as saying, according to AFP.The comments echoed a warning issued Tuesday by Iran's military that it would unleash its "full force" if a U.S. aircraft carrier is redeployed to the Gulf."We don't have the intention of repeating our warning, and we warn only once," Brigadier General Ataollah Salehi, Iran's armed forces chief, said as he told Washington to keep its aircraft carrier out of the Gulf.The White House on Tuesday brushed off the warning, saying it "reflects the fact that Iran is in a position ...

Concern for disruption to shipping in conjunction with future Iranian naval excercises The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) has issued the following advisory:Reports from maritime forces and commercial maritime interests indicate concern with the potential for localized disruption to shipping in conjunction with future Iranian naval exercises.During previous exercises Iranian maritime forces conducted boardings and inspections of merchant ships, including those flagged to European nations. The possibility exists that Iran will attempt to conduct boardings and inspections during exercises between December 2011 and March 2012. The most likely location for this activity would be in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, particularly in areas closer to Iranian territorial waters."If a Marshall Islands flagged vessel is hailed for boarding by the Iranian navy in international waters, the ship's Master should "protest but comply," if circumstances warrant.Please note that the inspections may take the form of port State control wherefore it is advisable that ship Masters make sure that all documentation is in order, that there be no PCASP on board and any permanently stored firearms and ammunition be properly inventoried and secured.Source: ONI

International sanctions against Iran's national shipping line As sanctions bite against Iran, its national shipping line is believed to be putting unsafe ships to sea to try to beat them. Are Asian nations prepared for the costs of a disaster?International sanctions against Iran's national shipping line in response to Tehran's nuclear ambitions are intensifying. The world's largest container carrier, Maersk, has suspended operations at three Iranian ports, while the US Treasury Department has launched legal action against 121 companies and individuals affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping (IRISL).The latest round of measures, aimed at Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, came after IRISL was ostracized by the international maritime community with mortgage foreclosures on its ships and saw access to insurance greatly limited, prompting speculation IRISL is facing its own death knell.However, as IRISL limps on, a new and potentially deadly risk has emerged - particularly in East Asia, where the monitoring of IRISL's fleet has improved dramatically, but surveillance still remains patchy.'Any Iranian ship in Asian waters should send alarm bells ringing as Iran tries by all means to escape sanctions imposed for its involvement in nuclear weapons proliferation,' says Carl Thayer, Emeritus Professor with the University ...

There is no need for the presence of foreign currents to provide security Iran aims to strengthen its maritime capabilities so that foreign navies do not need to provide security in the region, the country's defence minister has said. His comments come as Iran records more successes against pirates and continues to expand its naval reach."Based on the doctrine to expand security in international waters, Iran strengthens its naval forces so it can, with the help of regional countries, move towards indigenous regional security," Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said."The message our ...naval forces are sending other countries is that there is no need for the presence of foreign currents to provide security in this region," Vahidi added.Iran's navy has flexed its muscles this year by embarking on a number of significant deployments. In early June, the Iranian Navy Kilo class submarine Younus returned home after spending 68 days at sea with the 14th fleet sailing in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.Iran's Fars News Agency (FNA) reported Navy commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari as saying that his forces plan to increase the time to 90 days.In June Iran announced it was launching indigenous diesel-powered submarines. Iranian Navy deputy commander ...

Pirates attacked the 'Hoda' oil tanker as they attempted to hijack the vessel Iranian Naval forces have succeeded in rescuing an Iranian oil tanker, Hoda, from an attack by a group of pirates in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb.The pirates were riding on speedboats equipped with rocket propelled-grenade weapons, a press release by the Iranian Navy said.They attacked the 'Hoda' oil tanker as they attempted to hijack the vessel before the Iranian Navy intervened and forced the pirates to flee the scene.The Gulf of Aden, which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, is the quickest route for more than 20,000 vessels traveling annually between Asia, Europe and the Americas.However, attacks by heavily armed Somali pirates on speedboats have prompted some of the world's largest shipping firms to switch routes from the Suez Canal and reroute cargo vessels around southern Africa at a higher cost.Source: PressTV

The exemption will expire on 23 August Notwithstanding the recent designation of Tidewater by the US and the asset freeze imposed by the EU, the US yesterday issued a licence permitting the exportation or reexportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, or medical devices to the Government of Iran, any entity in Iran, individuals in Iran, or persons in third countries through Tidewater ports where the goods were shipped under a contract entered into prior to June 23, 2011, requiring delivery through a port or ports operated by Tidewater. To qualify a person engaged in this shipment must obtain a licence from OFAC.The exemption will expire on 23 August.Click here for the OFAC notice.Source: North of England P&I Club

Piracy is leading to a rise in shipping costs Commander of Iran's Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says the country's naval forces have escorted about 1,000 cargo ships and oil tankers since April 2009.Rear Admiral Sayyari told IRNA on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic's Navy has foiled over 13 pirate attacks in open waters since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (on March 22).The Iranian commander noted that the Iranian naval forces are conducting active patrols in open seas, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea region and northern Indian Ocean.Sayyari went on to state that the country's patrolling warships have even saved some foreign ships and tankers from pirate attacks. Earlier in May, he asserted that the Iranian Navy ranks first in the region in terms of its possession of advanced naval equipment, facilities and technologies.According to Sayyari, the Navy's sphere of operation has currently expanded to 2,000 kilometers from the previous 400 square kilometers, and the logistical coverage for naval groups has also been extended to more than 6,000 or 7,000 kilometers off the coast.The Gulf of Aden, which links the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, and the Mediterranean Sea, is the ...