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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iran threatens to block Strait of Hormuz oil route | Iran threatens to block Strait of Hormuz oil route |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Iran says it may close a vital oil-trade route if the West imposes more sanctions over its controversial nuclear programme. | Iran says it may close a vital oil-trade route if the West imposes more sanctions over its controversial nuclear programme. |
| Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi warned that "not a drop of oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz" if sanctions are widened. | |
| Iran's navy chief Admiral Habibollah Sayari later said closing the strait would be "easy". | Iran's navy chief Admiral Habibollah Sayari later said closing the strait would be "easy". |
| The US and its allies believe Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon. | The US and its allies believe Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon. |
| Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. | Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. |
| Oil and finance | Oil and finance |
| Western nations recently unveiled new sanctions against Tehran following a UN report that said Iran had carried out tests related to "development of a nuclear device". | Western nations recently unveiled new sanctions against Tehran following a UN report that said Iran had carried out tests related to "development of a nuclear device". |
| Further measures being considered to target Iran's oil and financial sectors have brought a furious response from Tehran. | Further measures being considered to target Iran's oil and financial sectors have brought a furious response from Tehran. |
| "The enemies will only drop their plots when we put them back in their place," Mr Rahimi was quoted as saying on Tuesday by the official news agency Irna. | "The enemies will only drop their plots when we put them back in their place," Mr Rahimi was quoted as saying on Tuesday by the official news agency Irna. |
| Adm Sayari later told Iran's Press TV that closing the Strait of Hormuz would be "really easy" for Iran's armed forces "or as Iranians say, easier than drinking a glass of water". | Adm Sayari later told Iran's Press TV that closing the Strait of Hormuz would be "really easy" for Iran's armed forces "or as Iranians say, easier than drinking a glass of water". |
| "But right now, we don't need to shut it as we have the Sea of Oman under control, and we can control the transit," he added. | "But right now, we don't need to shut it as we have the Sea of Oman under control, and we can control the transit," he added. |
| US presence | US presence |
| The Strait of Hormuz links the Gulf - and the oil-producing states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - to the Indian Ocean. About 40% of the world's tanker-borne oil passes through it. | The Strait of Hormuz links the Gulf - and the oil-producing states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - to the Indian Ocean. About 40% of the world's tanker-borne oil passes through it. |
| The US maintains a naval presence in the Gulf, largely to ensure the transport of oil remains open. | The US maintains a naval presence in the Gulf, largely to ensure the transport of oil remains open. |
| Washington played down the Iranian threat. | Washington played down the Iranian threat. |
| US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said: "I just think it's another attempt by them to distract attention from the real issue, which is their continued non-compliance with their international nuclear obligations." | US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said: "I just think it's another attempt by them to distract attention from the real issue, which is their continued non-compliance with their international nuclear obligations." |
| Iran's navy has been staging wargames in international waters to the east of the strait. | Iran's navy has been staging wargames in international waters to the east of the strait. |
| Adm Sayari said the manoeuvres were designed to show Gulf neighbours the power of Iran's military over the zone. | Adm Sayari said the manoeuvres were designed to show Gulf neighbours the power of Iran's military over the zone. |
| Washington and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iran's nuclear facilities if sanctions and diplomacy fail. | Washington and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iran's nuclear facilities if sanctions and diplomacy fail. |
| Iran has vowed to respond by attacking Israeli and US interests in the region. | Iran has vowed to respond by attacking Israeli and US interests in the region. |
| An embargo on Iranian oil exports has been considered before but dismissed as it could also drive up global oil prices and harm Western economies, particularly in Europe. | An embargo on Iranian oil exports has been considered before but dismissed as it could also drive up global oil prices and harm Western economies, particularly in Europe. |
| It is believed the new measures could cut Tehran off from global energy markets without raising the price of fuel. | It is believed the new measures could cut Tehran off from global energy markets without raising the price of fuel. |
| The UN has ratified four rounds of sanctions against Iran over its failure to halt uranium enrichment and co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). | The UN has ratified four rounds of sanctions against Iran over its failure to halt uranium enrichment and co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). |