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'US would take action if Iran closes Hormuz'
Written: 1-08-2012
Rapture Forum Staff: Chris
In a sharp increase in the rhetoric concerning the invaluable Straits of Hormuz, the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Martin Dempsey replied that if Iran were to close the Straits that the U.S. would "take action" to re-open the strategic waterway. The Straits of Hormuz is where approximately 40% of the world's oil supply comes from the surrounding oil exporting countries in the Middle East. The Jerusalem Post reports:
"They've invested in capabilities that could, in fact, for a period of time block the Strait of Hormuz," Dempsey said in an interview airing on the CBS "Face the Nation" program. "We've invested in capabilities to ensure that if that happens, we can defeat that." Should Iran try to close Hormuz, the US "would take action and reopen" the waterway, said Dempsey, US President Barack Obama's top military adviser.
This potential action of trying to close the Straits of Hormuz would be considered a "red line" crossed by Iran and would result in a coordinated response from the West. Even the British have been reported that they would be sending ships to the region in case they were needed. The West gets a considerable amount of it's oil from the countries that border on the Straits of Hormuz so any closure would be a violation of Western national interests. There have been some reports that said that the West has stored up emergency supplies of oil that would be used should a confrontation take place. But I would assume that any confrontation would be short lived should the United States Navy get involved.
The threats of closing the Straits of Hormuz as well as the ongoing Iranian nuclear program is a major problem between Iran and the West. The West has implied that "all options remain on the table" in dealing with Iran whether it be in the Straits or on the ground via the scattered Iranian nuclear program. The Jerusalem Post went on to further report:
Blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping lane linking the Gulf of Oman with the Persian Gulf, would constitute a "red line" for the US, as would Iranian efforts to build a nuclear weapon, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on the same program. Continued pressure, rather than threats of air strikes, is the best way to forestall Iran from developing nuclear weapons, Panetta said.
While the US shouldn't "take any option off the table," Panetta said "the responsible thing to do right now is to keep putting diplomatic and economic pressure on them to force them to do the right thing and to make sure that they do not make the decision to proceed with the development of a nuclear weapon."
The reality in the region is that it is explosive and a single miscalculation on either side could have dire consequences for the region. What I believe we are seeing is the continued march of Iran towards their prophetic destiny as outlined in Ezekiel 38-39. Whether the U.S. or Israel is the one to take care of the problem, the Bible tells us that one day the Iranians will have a reason enough to try to invade Israel from the north. This of course will be lead by the Russians who have a substantial stake in the Iranian nuclear program and whose cooperation has made it possible.
With literally thousands of Russian nuclear technicians working on the Iranian program, there is no doubt that "mother Russia" would get involved should there be a huge loss of Russian lives which would be inevitable should a military strike come upon Iran. With these things in view, let us continue to watch this situation as some experts have estimated that Iran could literally be only months away from a working nuclear weapon. This could mean that a U.S. and/or Israel response could be even closer. Keep watching and looking up, as we see Bible prophecy moving towards fulfillment, we are to watch for the Lord in His glorious rapture of the church. May it be soon!
God bless.
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