Mid East Heating Up: Iran Warns U.S. About Carriers in Strait of Hormuz

As Iran engages in war games exercises in and around the key oil transportation choke point at the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. military’s 5th fleet is keeping a close watch. After having successfully test fired at least three missiles – one medium range and two long range – to showcase its capabilities of taking out sea and land-based targets, US carriers passed through the area without incident.

However, Ataollah Salehi, the General in charge of Iran’s naval fleet warned U.S. officials of further interference in the area, saying “I advise, recommend and warn them (the Americans) over the return of this carrier to the Persian Gulf because we are not in the habit of warning more than once.”

Other than the traditional Iranian rhetoric, no specific threat about what actions would be taken was made.

“We recommend to the American warship that passed through the Strait of Hormuz and went to Gulf of Oman not to return to the Persian Gulf,” Salehi was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA.

Motives behind Salehi’s statement were not immediately clear.

He said Iran’s enemies have understood the message of the naval exercises, adding, “We have no plan to begin any irrational act but we are ready against any threat.”

Source: CBC

The price of oil has shot up about 10% in the last couple of weeks as traders and investors worry about the possibility of a conflict turning from just words to actual military engagement.