US holds navy exercise after Iran comments on Gulf

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

DUBAI, July 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy said on Monday it was carrying out an exercise in the Gulf, days after vowing that Iran will not be allowed to block the waterway which carries crude from the world's largest oil-exporting region.

"The aim of Exercise Stake Net is to practise the tactics and procedures of protecting maritime infrastructure such as gas and oil installations," Commodore Peter Hudson said in a U.S. Fifth Fleet statement.

The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in remarks published late last month that Tehran would impose controls on shipping in the Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz if it was attacked.

Speculation about a possible attack on Iran because of its nuclear programme has risen since a report last month said Israel had practised such a strike.

...

Two U.S. vessels were taking part in the exercise alongside a British warship and one from Bahrain, a Gulf Arab ally which hosts the Fifth Fleet. "Stake Net seeks to help ensure a lawful maritime order as well as improve relationships between regional partners," the fleet's statement said.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L0791293.htm

[LakeSamish706]

1. They just keep rattling the sabers of war.... hmmmm n/t

[shadowknows69]

3. More than that, chess pieces are being moved into position

[dipsydoodle]

2. You shouldn't need to search far

to find that Iran has got tankers laden with c. 28,000,000 barrels of crude parked up in the Gulf. They need do little more than sink their own ships to screw the entire area.

[L0oniX]

4. Gee ...I wonder how much fuel they are consuming?

[pattmarty]

5. Famous quote by a noted "dumbfuck": "there you go again"!!!

[bemildred]

6. Unless they can stop or eliminate all of Iran's cruise and ballistic missiles,

plus any direct fire weapons with the range, Iran WILL be allowed to close the strait. Oil tankers make big, messy, slow, clumsy targets. Oh, and let's not forget mining the strait.