Iran has renewed threats to close the Strait of Hormuz if it is prevented from using the strategic Persian Gulf waterway to export oil.
鈥淯nder international law, the Strait of Hormuz is a 鈥榮ea passage鈥�,鈥� Ali Reza Tengseiri, commander of Iran鈥檚 Revolutionary Guard Corps naval force, was quoted as saying by Iran鈥檚 Fars News Agency on Monday.
鈥淚f we are prevented from using it, we will close it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f there is any threat鈥� to Iranian waters, we will not hesitate to respond.鈥�
Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened to close the strait, one of the global oil trade鈥檚 most important waterways, amid steadily mounting tensions with the U.S.
The lion鈥檚 share of petroleum from the region鈥檚 top producers -- including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait -- passes through the Strait of Hormuz en route to oil-thirsty markets in the Far East.
Earlier Monday, Washington announced plans to end all temporary exemptions for countries that still buy Iranian oil.
The move comes as part of the White House鈥檚 policy of exerting 鈥渕aximum pressure鈥� on Iran with a view to bringing the country鈥檚 petroleum revenue to zero.
Last November, the Trump administration re-imposed sanctions on Iran鈥檚 oil sector after pulling the U.S. out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and the P5+1 group of nations (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany).
Anadolu Agency
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