Khaberni - Iran plans to close parts of the strategic Strait of Hormuz as a precautionary measure during military maneuvers by the Revolutionary Guard, according to the Iranian state television channel.
"Parts of the Strait of Hormuz will be closed in accordance with safety and navigation principles," said the channel's reporter covering the event from a location near the maneuvers that began yesterday, Monday.
He noted that the partial closure will last "a few hours".
The Israeli newspaper "Jerusalem Post" mentioned in its analysis that recent reports about the United States requesting an additional batch of Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOP), reignite the question of whether the U.S. military has the capability to end Iran's nuclear program should it decide to attack, and the newspaper clarified that the answer to this ...
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard began a series of military maneuvers on Monday, the duration of which has not been specified, in preparation for "potential security and military threats" in the Strait.
These exercises followed the United States deploying a significant naval force in the region in an attempt to pressure Iran to reach an agreement concerning its nuclear program.
Iranian politicians have repeatedly threatened to close the strait, especially during times of escalating tensions with the United States, but it has never been closed.
The United States raised its military readiness level in the Middle East, coinciding with its preparation to enter a second round of negotiations with Iran in Geneva today, Tuesday.
About a quarter of the world's total sea-transported oil and a fifth of the liquefied natural gas pass through the Strait, according to the International Energy Agency.
Ali Reza Tangsiri, commander of the Revolutionary Guard's naval forces, said that any complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz would depend on what the country's leaders decide.
