Region | Iran

Iran renews threat to shut Hormuz

Iran on Monday announced that it has tested a new weapon capable of sinking ships nearly 200 miles away, and reiterated threats to close a strategic waterway at the mouth of the Gulf if attacked.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 23:25 August 4, 2008
  • Gulf News

Tehran: Iran on Monday announced that it has tested a new weapon capable of sinking ships nearly 200 miles away, and reiterated threats to close a strategic waterway at the mouth of the Gulf if attacked.

Up to 40 per cent of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage along Iran's southern coast. Tehran has warned it could shut down tanker traffic there if attacked - a move likely to send oil prices skyrocketing.

Revolutionary Guards commander General Mohammad Ali Jafari yesterday said that the new marine weapon is "unique in the world" and has a range of 300km, according to the state news agency Irna. That's within range of US warships deployed in the Gulf.

The US State Department yesterday said the group - the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany - agreed to pursue further sanctions against Iran because of its failure to meet the Saturday deadline.

Earlier in the day, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana held what a spokesman described as "inconclusive" talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili.

State Department spokes-man Gonzago Gallegos said Jalili told Solana that Tehran would provide a written response to the proposed trade and economic incentives today.

A spokesman for Solana said in Brussels that further contacts between the EU and Iran "are not ruled out in the coming days".

But he did not mention any pledge by Jalili to provide a written response today to the big powers' proposal.

Iranian television meanwhile reported that in the Solana-Jalili telephone conversation, "both sides agreed to continue talks." "They also emphasised that preserving this path (talks) needs a positive and constructive atmosphere."

The United Nations has imposed three sets of sanctions against Iran and is mulling a fourth round of measures. Tehran has steadfastly ref sed to suspend its uranium enrichment, which it says is aimed only at nuclear power production.

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