(with thanks to IMRA.ORG.IL for bringing this piece to our attention)


News number: 890206158619:27 | 2010-04-26Defence
 http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8902061586

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Navy has the capability to block the Strait of
Hormuz in the Persian Gulf as a tactic to fight back against further
sanctions on the country, a prominent legislator cautioned on Monday.

Referring to the recent attempts made by certain western countries to impose
a fourth round of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran, member of the
parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Parviz Sarvari
said that if further sanctions are imposed on Tehran, then Iran will not be
the only country to lose something in the game.

“The Strait of Hormuz can provide (us with) potentials that if necessary
they will be used,” Sarvari added in a meeting dubbed as “the Future of
Iran’s Nuclear Case, the Threats and Opportunities” here in Tehran today.

The Strait of Hormuz, the entrance to the strategic Persian Gulf waterway,
is a major oil shipping route. A major part of world’s energy supply passes
through the waterway.

“If the Strait of Hormuz is closed, which is a practical thing to happen, 62
percent of the world energy will be kept away from them. In this case the
world economy will face a big problem,” he reiterated.

Sarvari also underlined that Iran’s ‘Ya Mahdi’ speedboats, which went on
display during the recent wargames by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps in
the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, have transformed Iran’s weak
points in naval combats to strong points.

The IRGC started massive naval exercises, codenamed as Payambar-e Azam 5, in
the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.

A range of home-made missiles were test-fired during the wargames which
experts say showed the IRGC’s naval power. Various kinds of short-range
missiles were also fired during the military maneuver which saw its fourth
and last stage on Sunday.

Iranian officials also announced today that all the missiles test-fired in
the wargames, including the Nasr 1 anti-vessel cruise missiles, have already
been mass-produced by the Defense Ministry.

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