Iran Back to Threats

The USS Abraham Lincoln, which carries more firepower than the entire Iranian air force can muster, was accompanied by her normal escorts plus English and French ships as she made her way through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Persian Gulf. Making it seem as if Iran was bringing itself to some sort of reasonable state and that the government was standing down from their extreme stance after they had warned that no US carrier would be allowed into the Gulf. But that all changed today when the European Union announced a complete ban on Iranian oil.

Iran was quick to throw fuel back on the fire. "If any disruption happens regarding the sale of Iranian oil, the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be closed," stated Mohammad Kossari, deputy head of parliament's foreign affairs and national security committee, "If America seeks adventures after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will make the world unsafe for Americans in the shortest possible time."

The EU sanctions will not actually go into effect until July 1, so as to not hurt the economies of European nations who need time to find alternate sources. Former Intelligence Minister Ali Fallahian, a current member of the Assembly of Experts, said Tehran, "should respond to the delayed-action EU sanctions by stopping sales to the bloc immediately, denying the Europeans time to arrange alternative supplies and damaging their economies with higher oil prices. The best way is to stop exporting oil ourselves before the end of this six months and before the implementation of the plan." In such a move Iran would have to hope that other sources would buy their oil, but as even, long time ally, China has cut their buying of Iranian oil there may be little hope there.