US, Britain And France Send Warships Through Strait Of Hormuz

Flashback:

Ron Paul: Sanctions Against Iran Are an ‘Act of War’:

… Ron Paul told voters in Iowa that western sanctions against Iran are “acts of war” that are likely to lead to an actual war.

Paul said that Iran would be justified in responding to sanctions by blocking the Straits of Hormuz, adding that the country blocking the strategically important strait is “so logical” since they have no other recourse.

He then compared the situation to China blocking off the Gulf of Mexico to trade.

We are totally broke (like NAZI GERMANY before) and the only thing we have left is …

… the military.

War with Russia and China, anyone?

China To Protect Iran Even If It Means World War III

Russian Military Chief Warns NATO: ‘Under Certain Conditions Local And Regional Conflicts May Develop Into A Full-Scale War Involving Nuclear Weapons’


Britain, America and France delivered a pointed signal to Iran, sending six warships led by a 100,000 ton aircraft carrier through the highly sensitive waters of the Strait of Hormuz.


USS Abraham Lincoln

Britain, US and France send warships through Strait of Hormuz (Telegraph, Jan. 23, 2012):

This deployment defied explicit Iranian threats to close the waterway. It coincided with an escalation in the West’s confrontation with Iran over the country’s nuclear ambitions.

European Union foreign ministers are today expected to announce an embargo on Iranian oil exports, amounting to the most significant package of sanctions yet agreed. They are also likely to impose a partial freeze on assets held by the Iranian Central Bank in the EU.

Tehran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation. Tankers carrying 17 million barrels of oil pass through this waterway every day, accounting for 35 per cent of the world’s seaborne crude shipments. At its narrowest point, located between Iran and Oman, the Strait is only 21 miles wide.

Last month, Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, commander of the Iranian navy, claimed that closing the Strait would be “easy,” adding: “As Iranians say, it will be easier than drinking a glass of water.”

But USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered carrier capable of embarking 90 aircraft, passed through this channel and entered the Gulf without incident yesterday. HMS Argyll, a Type 23 frigate from the Royal Navy, was one of the escort vessels making up the carrier battle-group. A guided missile cruiser and two destroyers from the US Navy completed the flotilla, along with one warship from the French navy.

All three countries retain a permanent military presence in the Gulf, but a joint passage through the Strait of Hormuz by all of their respective navies is highly unusual. The flotilla will have passed within a few miles of the Iranian coastline.

A western official denied this was a provocative move intended to increase the pressure on Iran. The goal was simply to “illustrate international resolve” to guarantee free movement of shipping through a vital artery of the world economy, he said.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed that “HMS Argyll and a French vessel joined a US carrier group transiting through the Strait of Hormuz to underline the unwavering international commitment to maintaining rights of passage under international law.”

The spokesman added that Britain maintains a “constant presence in the region as part of our enduring contribution to Gulf security”. Royal Navy warships have been patrolling the region continuously since 1980.

Abraham Lincoln’s entry into the Gulf came in defiance of an explicit warning from Iran. Earlier this month, General Ataollah Salehi, commander of the country’s armed forces, threatened to respond with “full force” if any US carrier ventured into the region’s waters. “We don’t have the intention of repeating our warning, and we warn only once,” he said.

The Islamic Republic then held a naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz. More Iranian military manoeuvres, code-named Exercise Noble Prophet, are expected in the waterway later this week.

Another carrier, USS Carl Vinson, has been in the Gulf and the surrounding region for several months. Abraham Lincoln’s arrival means a return to the two-carrier deployment that America has retained in the area for many years.

Each of these Nimitz class vessels carries a complement of fighter aircraft with more striking power than the entire Iranian air force. Their presence widens the options open to Western governments should Tehran attempt to retaliate for tighter sanctions by harassing international shipping lanes.

Iran could do so by laying launching attacks using warships or land-based anti-shipping missiles. Each of these threats could be countered using carrier-based aircraft.

However, officials believe that the balance of forces against Iran makes any such move against the Strait of Hormuz highly unlikely. Iran has an interest in talking up the possibility because this can raise oil prices and increase its own revenue at a time when its economy is in severe difficulties.

One official added that no government should dismiss these threats, pointing to Iran’s actual disruption of shipping in the Gulf in the late 1980s. Another option that would fall short of launching classic military strikes would be for Iran to lay mines in shipping lanes.

All US warships deployed in the Gulf, the Red Sea and the western half of the Indian Ocean are controlled by US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The Royal Navy also has a small permanent staff based in the Gulf kingdom.

Flashback:

George Galloway: The Case Against War With Iran (Must-Listen!!!):

‘Iran Hasn’t Invaded Another Country In More Than 300 Years.’

More on Iran:

EU Foreign Ministers Agree On Iranian Oil Embargo – Europe Is Shooting Itself In The Foot

India Joins Asian Dollar Exclusion Zone, Will Transact With Iran In Rupees

Satanist Takes Credit for Upcoming War With Iran (WW III)

‘Iran Signs Own Death Warrant’ (Veterans Today)

CNN: US Funds Iran Nuclear Program (Video)

Iran Is Not Our Enemy (Video)

The Real Target … US Wants To ‘Close Down The Central Bank Of Iran’: Senior U.S. Official

Iran, Russia Replace US Dollar With National Currencies In Trade Exchanges

Iran Nuclear Scientist’s Death Followed Israeli Warning Of ‘Unnatural’ Events – Iran Blames Mossad And The CIA

Gerald Celente: ‘Politics Is Show Business For The Ugly’ – Expects Europe To Collpase In April – On The NDAA And Indefinite Detention: ‘They Can Simply Blow My Brains Out Now’ … ‘This Is FASCISM’

IAEA ‘Officially Confirmed That Iran Has Started Enriching Uranium To The 20-Percent Level, Which Can EASILY Be Turned Into Fissile Warhead Material’

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta: Iran Not Building Nuclear Bombs Yet

US Analysts: Iran’s Nuclear Fuel Rod Isn’t Military Threat (Bloomberg, Jan. 4, 2012)

Thousands Of US Troops To Be Deployed In Israel, Joined By US Aircraft Carrier

Obama And Netanayu Push For Attack On Iran (Video)

American Investigative Journalist: CIA, Mossad Made Up Fairytale Terrorist Group Al-Qaeda

Royal Navy Sends Its Mightiest Warship To Take On Iran

Ron Paul: Sanctions Against Iran Are an ‘Act of War’:

Unwilling to back down from the growing criticism that his foreign policy would be “dangerous,” Ron Paul told voters in Iowa that western sanctions against Iran are “acts of war” that are likely to lead to an actual war.

Paul said that Iran would be justified in responding to sanctions by blocking the Straits of Hormuz, adding that the country blocking the strategically important strait is “so logical” since they have no other recourse.

He then compared the situation to China blocking off the Gulf of Mexico to trade.

Iran To Hold New ‘Massive’ Naval Exercise Near Straits Of Hormuz, To Run Parallel With Joint US-Israel Wargame

Interview With James Morris From ‘America-Hijacked.com’: Israel Pushing US Towards War With Iran

‘US Deploys Troops In Israel For Iran War’

Rachel Maddow: Ron Paul Is The Only Presidential Candidate That Doesn’t Want To Start Another War!

President Obama Signs ‘Toughest Yet’ (= Warlike) Iran Sanctions (Which Are Part Of The NDAA) Into Law:

Effectively, the measures will force companies and financial institutions throughout the world to choose between the United States and Iran as their business partner.

Rick Santorum Wants To Bomb Iran’s Nuclear Facilities (= WW III) (NBC Video)

CFR’s Foreign Affairs: ‘Time To Attack Iran’ (= WW III)

Adrian Salbuchi: Imperial Overdrive: Red Alert Over Iran

China To Protect Iran Even If It Means World War III

US Drone Lost Over Iran Was On CIA Operation – Rep. Dennis Kucinich: ‘The Events Have Been Confirmed, So When You Start To Connect The Dots, Those Dots Start To Spell The Word WAR’ (Video)

Russian Military Chief Warns NATO: ‘Under Certain Conditions Local And Regional Conflicts May Develop Into A Full-Scale War Involving Nuclear Weapons’

RT: Russia Warns ‘Grave Consequences’ Would Follow Any Strike On Iran – Adrian Salbuchi: IAEA ‘Evidence’ Provided By US,UK, France And Maybe Even Israel Itself, ‘The Proof Is Very Vaque’, Evidence ‘Not Properly Substantiated – History Lession

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Calls Head Of IAEA A US ‘Puppet’ (Video – Guardian, Nov. 8 2011) … And He Is Correct … Nuclear Wikileaks: Cables Show Cosy US Relationship With IAEA Chief (Guardian, Nov. 30, 2010)

Flashback:

Heads Of Mossad And Shin Bet May Have Leaked Plans For Attack On Iran, PM Netanyahu Orders An Investigation (Guardian, Nov. 3, 2011):

… the main suspects are the former heads of the Mossad and the Shin Bet, respectively Israel’s foreign and domestic intelligence agencies.Netanyahu is said to believe that the two, Meir Dagan and Yuval Diskin, wanted to torpedo plans being drawn up by him and Ehud Barak, the defence minister, to hit Iranian nuclear sites.

In January the recently retired Dagan, a hawk when he was running the Mossad, called an attack on Iran “the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard“.

“The stupidest idea I’ve ever heard“ = WW III:

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