U.S. Sends Iran Ultimatum On Strait  of Hormuz

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Janaury 15, 2012
All Rights Reserved.                                         

                Only one day after the Iran accused the CIA in the death of nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, the U.S. sent Iran through Swiss intermediaries a letter warning Tehran of grave consequences should they try to close the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian’s Gulf’s narrow shipping lane through which 25-33% of the world’s oil travels.  Killed Jan. 11 in a brazen daytime attack by a motorcyclist planting a magnetic bomb on Roshan’s car, Iran blamed the U.S., not Israel, for killing another nuclear scientist.  Iran claimed it has “evidence and reliable information” that the CIA provided “guidance, support and planning” and was “directly involved” in Roshana’s murder.  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton disavowed any U.S. involvement.  Tehran also accused the U.K.’s MI6 of having an “obvious role” in Roshan’s assassination, after intel Chief John Sawers hinted in 2010 about Iranian operations.

             U.S., British and Israel officials have all made it clear that they won’t tolerate Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. While denied by Tehran, Western officials believe that Iran’s uranium enrichment program, now shifting to an impregnable bunker near the holy city of Qom, was aimed at producing weapons grade material.  Without Iran’s cooperation with the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, U.S., British and Israeli security officials have all committed to keeping nuke’s out of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s hands.  Since Iran sacked the U.S. embassy in 1979, the U.S. has had no formal diplomatic relations.  All communications go through the Swiss embassy or some other third party.  Since Roshan’s killing, Iran appears poised for some kind of retaliation.  Iran warned the U.S. 5th Fleet to stay away from the Perdian Gulf’s Strait of Hormuz.

             Iran’s initial response to Roshan’s murder pointed fingers at Israel’s Mossad intel services.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considers Iran an “existential threat” since Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threatened to “wipe Israel off the map” in 2005.  Iran appears to be “reviewing the punishment” options according to Gen Masoud Jazayeri, spokesman for Iran’s Joint Armed Forces Staff.  Ahmadinejad has rejected Western attempts to rein in Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, insisting it’s for only peaceful purposes.  “Iran’s response will be a tormenting one for supporters of state terrorism,” said Gen. Jazayeri, raising disturbing questions of whether or not targeting of Iran’s nuclear scientists is fair game.  Iran sees targeting assassinations as an act of war, prompting some type of retaliation.  Gen. Jazaryeri blamed the IAEA of targeting Iran’s nuclear scientists.

               Receiving a letter from the U.S. Jan. 15, Iran’s been put on notice that any attempt to shut down the Strait of Hormuz would be met with a strong U.S. military response.  Before Roshan’s killing  Iran had threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, in response to diplomatic sanctions, threatening to halt worldwide oil deals with Iran.  Obama announced tough new sanctions Dec. 31, 2011against Tehran.  Since Iran receives about 80% of its national revenue from petro-sales, a European Union boycott would have devastating effects on the Iranian economy.  “America’s message over the Strait of Hormuz reached up through three channels.  It was given to our U.N. representative, the Swiss ambassador, conveyed it to the Foreign Ministry and also Iraqi President Jalal Talabani gave the message to Iran,” said Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast.

            Before the Persian Gulf spins out of control, the U.S. wanted Iran to know in unmistakable terms that any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz would be met with immediate U.S. military response.  U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta confirmed that any Iranian action in the Strait of Hormuz would be challenged.  “If we deem it is necessary to give a response to America’s message, then we will reply to it.  The issue is being reviewed by Iran and it will be done in an appropriate way,” said Mehmanparst.  Behind the tensions in the Gulf is Iran’s refusal to submit to IAEA inspections, opening its nuclear program up for review.  Since acknowledging a new underground enrichment facility in Qom, the Iranian government rejected all attempts by “bullying powers” to stop nuclear enrichment activities.  Targeting Iran’s nuclear scientists is part of the West’s covert war.

             Sending an ultimatum to Iran, the U.S. served notice that any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz would be regarded as an act of war.  Tehran’s mullah-based government must decide quickly whether it wants to survive or risk a confrontation with the U.S.  Judging by the current chess game, it looks like Iran has already blinked, hinting at opening its nuclear sites to more IAEA inspections.  If Iran were really open to more inspections, Gen. Jazayeri wouldn’t blame the IAEA for revealing names of its atomic scientists.  IAEA “has provided the possibility of their identification and targeting by spy networks,” hinting that Iran sees no degree of separation between the U.N’s IAEA, U.S.’s CIA, Britain’s MI6 and Israel’s Mossad.  However Iran avenges Roshan’s death, closing the Strait of Hormuz would be a foolish move, risking to end the mullah’s stranglehold on the Persian nation.

  John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.       

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