Brian Hook, the State Department's director of policy planning, earlier reaffirmed the United States' determination to increase pressure on Iran and reduce its crude oil exports to zero by November.
The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards has stated that their forces are ready to follow through with the threat to close the strategical waterway linking Middle East crude producers to crucial world markets, the Strait of Hormuz, if the United States snapped back sanctions targeting Tehran's oil.
“We are hopeful that this plan expressed by our president will be implemented if needed… We will make the enemy understand that either everyone can use the Strait of Hormuz or no one,” Tasnim news agency cited Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp, as saying.
US Labeling IRGC a Terror Group May End With Iran Closing Hormuz Strait – Prof
Responding to Iran's threat to retaliate, the US military's Central Command issued a statement to reaffirm its readiness to guarantee freedom of navigation.
“The US and its partners provide and promote security and stability in the region. Together, we stand ready to ensure the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce wherever international law allows,” Central Command spokesman Navy Captain Bill Urban wrote in an email to Reuters.
Earlier this week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pledged to stand firm…
