Iran to launch a “Hormuz closing” maneuver

[Steam]

Do I smell war.

[Amichai2]

But why would they close it to their allies? For sure, the oil tankers from the countries supporting iran would not be affected by this measure. ( About 1/3 of China´s imported oil passes trhough the gulf of Hormuz)

Iranian navy cannot block the strait for more than 15 minutes. The only way for them is sinking ships and saturate the waters with mines.

[Piirka]

I guess even such threat can put oil price up, hurting our strained economies. And aren't they nowadays better stacked with land-based ssm's? But indeed, if they try it, it's a suicide for them...

[Astaran]

Wait, do they launch only a maneuver to simulate a closing of the Hormuz strait or do they plan to actually close the straight for real? Even Lolmadinichad can't be that stupid (but you can never be sure with those damn politicians)

[eskachig]

Wait, do they launch only a maneuver to simulate a closing of the Hormuz strait or do they plan to actually close the straight for real? Even Lolmadinichad can't be that stupid (but you can never be sure with those damn politicians)

I think they're practicing for doing this in case of a war, and to create another deterrant - not as a random "**** the world" suicidal gesture.

[leloup46]

I was in when we were escorting Kuwait ships flying our flag. I don't think Iran understands the immense power of our Navy.

It's not the few Iranian corvettes that are the problem. The exercise will probably be about minelaying with subs and other means. But it can give us precious information how to thwart it if it was starting for real.

[Jacknola]

Ahhh... YESSSS, just in time. With Iraq returning to normalcy (AFU), and Afghanistan reduced the status of don't-knock-it-it's-the-only-war-we-got, a nasty outbreak of world peace (more or less) was on the horizon. Just in time, another lunatic fringe country volunteers for de-building before re-building.

Lets see ... Iran, N. Korea, Pakistan, maybe Cuba and Venezuala, and ... hummmmm and .... well ... I'm out of candidates. Oh well, something will turn up.

[JRT]

Iranian navy cannot block the strait for more than 15 minutes. The only way for them is sinking ships and saturate the waters with mines.

Perhaps you should read more and talk less.

[memfisa]

Iranian navy cannot block the strait for more than 15 minutes. The only way for them is sinking ships and saturate the waters with mines.

So, Iranian navy cant block the straight for more than 15 minutes, the only way for them to block the straight is for the Iranian navy to sink ships and saturate the waters with mines.. So, then they can block it for more than 15 minutes or they still cannot? You confused me greatly

[Tocsin_Bang]

I think the point being made was that the Iranian forces haven't the power to conduct a conventional naval blockade, at least not if it is opposed. So physical blocking of the channels in concert with mines and whatever naval/air action they could muster would be their only means of "blocking" the Strait.

This doesn't allow for them to permit safe passage to 'allies' while denying to 'enemies', although they could probably ease things somewhat for the former.

It's a reasonable point although the "15 minute" angle was a bit hyperbolic.

In any event, the very attempt is likely to lead to a wider war in extremely short order.

[The Left Hand of God]

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 12 / Trend S. Isayev, T. Jaffarov/

Iran plans to launch a maneuver that will close down the Hormuz strait, a member of Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Parviz Sururi said, ISNA reported.

"If the international community wants an insecure region, we will make the world insecure as well. We will carry out a maneuver that will close down the Strait of Hormuz," Sururi said.

Over 70% of world's energy transits go through Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz.

http://en.trend.az/regions/iran/1968218.html

Well, sink their ships. That'll get a message through.

[Ought Six]

Iranian navy cannot block the strait for more than 15 minutes. The only way for them is sinking ships and saturate the waters with mines.

They can use artillery and anti-ship missiles from hidden positions on shore. We can destroy them as they fire/launch and reveal their position, but they have a lot of them. They could keep it up for a while if they wished.

[JRT]

The IRN and the IRGCN have a variety of means to affect shipping in the Gulf region. The notable ones are:

- 3 Kilo - class submarines
- Surface vessels of the IRN
- FAC's armed with AShM's
- Shore-launched AShM's
- Naval mines dispersed by the IRN and the small vessels of the IRGCN
- FAC's armed with MLRS
- Boarding raids by the IRGCN
- Aircraft of the IRIAF
- Coastal artillery
- Midget submarines

While the large surface vessels and the submarines aren't that big of a deal for the United States to handle, hundreds of FAC's and other armed small boats, anti-ship missiles, naval mines and numerous small submarines are a lot harder to wipe out entirely. It's a long stretch of coast with a many islands. It's not like they'd have to destroy every vessel moving trough. Just the threat to the shipping, not to mention damaging or sinking a few tankers would sky-rocket the insurance costs.

As mentioned, it would simultaneously strip Iran from it's own primary means of foreign trade, so starting a shooting war by "closing" the strait is very unlikely to be done by Tehran.

If it was easy, there'd be no more pirating in Somalia either, and look at what the Somali's got. A bunch of fishing boats and douchebags with AK's and RPG's.

[LineDoggie]

Worked so well for Iran last time, didnt it? Operation Praying Mantis II coming to an IRGC zodiac soon

[ISNJH]

I was also thinking of Operation Praying Mantis anyone seen the the video on youtube from that day of the American ship announcing to the Iranian ships on the loud speaker from the US ship "This is a warning ceasefire abandon your ship at once we intend to sink you"