Holy Shit! It's On: Iran Closes Straits Of Hormuz, Oil Explodes

[mamboni]

It's On: Iran Closes Straits Of Hormuz, Oil Explodes


http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-5.jpg (http://www.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)
Submitted by Tyler Durden (http://www.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden) on 12/13/2011 09:53 -0500



Iran has closed the Straits of Hormuz for military training as was expected yesterday (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/iran-military-practising-straights-hormuz-closure), according to RanSquawk. Oil, and all other commodities, are outtahere.
http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2011/12/Hormuz.jpg (http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2011/12/Hormuz.jpg)
And entire commodity complex:
http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2011/12/Commods%20hormuz.jpg (http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2011/12/Commods%20hormuz.jpg)
And for those curious about more, RanSquawk speculates that the source of the data is a report in the Tehran Times (http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics/93462-iran-to-hold-war-game-to-close-strait-of-hormuz-mp)saying that Iran will hold War Games in which it would close the Straits. Unclear if this is what Ran referenced when they said the Straits were already closed.




TEHRAN - MP Parviz Sorouri of the Majlis National Security and
Foreign Policy Committee has said that Iran plans to practice its
ability to close the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most
strategically important chokepoints, which accounts for about 30% of the
world’s seaborne oil shipments.

“Currently,
the Middle East region supplies 70 percent of the world’s energy needs,
(most of) which are transported through the Strait of Hormuz. We will
hold an exercise to close the Strait of Hormuz in the near future. If
the world wants to make the region insecure, we will make the world
insecure,” ISNA quoted Sorouri as saying on Tuesday.



:o:o:o:o:o

[General of Darkness]

Good times.

http://home.trbailey.net/home/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/dancing.gif

[Canadian-guerilla]

i'm sure the Pentagram has a few satellites watching the straits

[mamboni]

Good times.

http://home.trbailey.net/home/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/dancing.gif

You certainly live up to your name.;D

If this brinkmanship continues, we will have a shooting war and we'll all be shitting a brick and praying, except maybe you General.

[vacuum]

http://finviz.com/fut_image.ashx?relative_d1.png&rev=634593694858125000

[EE_]

Iran must chose between a bomb or survival: Israel
by Staff Writers
Jerusalem (AFP) Dec 12, 2011

A senior Israeli cabinet minister on Monday said Iran must be forced to face an existential question over its nuclear drive: choose between getting an atomic bomb, or survival.

"We believe that in order to stop the Iranian military nuclear project, the regime in Tehran should face a dilemma -- whether to have a bomb or to survive," Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon told reporters in Jerusalem.

Yaalon said however it was for the international community, rather than Israel, to apply what he called an "achievable" policy.

"We prefer that the international community led by the United States will bring about this dilemma in order to convince the regime to give up its military nuclear programme," he said, stressing the need for political isolation and economic sanctions aimed at the banking and oil sectors.

Israel and much of the international community fear that Iran's nuclear programme masks a drive for a weapons capability.

Tehran denies any such ambition and says the programme is for peaceful civilian energy and medical purposes only.

"Our policy is very clear -- by one way or another, the military nuclear project in Iran should be stopped," Yaalon said, indicating it "might be 12 months, might be 24 months" until Iran was able to reach a military nuclear capability.

Israel has pushed Washington and the European Union for tough sanctions against Tehran, but has repeatedly warned it would not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.

Yaalon, a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's inner circle of eight ministers, also reiterated the line that while a military option was still on the table, as "the last resort."

He declined to comment on what was behind a deadly explosion at a Iranian military base near Tehran last month, which a top Israeli intelligence official reportedly said was a site where ground-to-ground missiles were being developed.

"They had some blow to the missiles project in the last incident in which a missile site absorbed a significant blow -- especially regarding long-range missiles," Yaalon said.

Media reports have suggested the blast was part of a covert effort by the United States, Israel and other states to disable Iran's nuclear and missile programmes.

Last month, the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency said it had "credible" information Iran was carrying out "activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device."

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Iran_must_chose_between_a_bomb_or_survival_Israel_ 999.html

[mamboni]

Israel can have 200+ illegal nuclear weapons in defiance of the international non-proliferation treaty and Iran cannot have just one, right?

[palani]

Khadafi gave up his nuke program. Maybe the Iranians learned from his experience?

[EE_]

I wouldn't blame Iran if they kept the strait closed until all sanctions are lifted.
Iran is under attack. Now would be a good time to flex their muscle and stick it to em!

[midnight rambler]

Now the splash on Drudge - http://news.yahoo.com/iran-army-declines-mps-hormuz-exercise-remarks-132115297.html

[Spectrism]

Iran needs to learn how to play the word game.

They can announce to the world that they do indeed have a nuclear weapon program called: the Nuclear Peace Project.

Everybody loves peace, right?

Or, they could call it: the World Peace and Security Nuclear Weapons Development Program.

Or, they could stick with their catchy: Wipe Israel Off the face of the Earth Nuclear Aggression Plan.

[mamboni]

I wouldn't blame Iran if they kept the strait closed until all sanctions are lifted.
Iran is under attack. Now would be a good time to flex their muscle and stick it to em!

It's their trump card. And we are forcing them to play it. IMHO, NATO will have no choice but to attempth to prevent Iran from closng the straits because western economies cannot stand the stress of an oil price shock. NATO will view Iran's "exercise" as an act of war.

[JJ.G0ldD0t]

Geez guys... you all are gonna be on the Iranian cheerleading squad- right until they EMP us.
These governments deserve each other and everyone else suffers.

[JJ.G0ldD0t]

It's their trump card. And we are forcing them to play it. IMHO, NATO will have no choice but to attempth to prevent Iran from closng the straits because western economies cannot stand the stress of an oil price shock. NATO will view Iran's "exercise" as an act of war.


That makes too much sense- and its too apparent.

I always thought we'd never see it coming.

[beefsteak]

Spec,
there's always the Ba'al v Yahweh bumper sticker...

Surprised you being a Bible thumper and all, missed the opportunity to post that version...:rolleyes:

[EE_]

It's their trump card. And we are forcing them to play it. IMHO, NATO will have no choice but to attempth to prevent Iran from closng the straits because western economies cannot stand the stress of an oil price shock. NATO will view Iran's "exercise" as an act of war.

If it were me, I'd say it was only an exercise and quickly bring everything I had to keep it closed.
Bring war ships, old ships, underwater mines, etc. Turn it into a big junk pile if need be.

[osoab]

Update: It's Not On Just Yet: Iran Denies Earlier Reports:... Iran Closes Straits Of Hormuz, Oil Explodes (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/its-iran-closes-straits-hormuz-oil-explodes)

[beefsteak]

It's their trump card. And we are forcing them to play it. IMHO, NATO will have no choice but to attempth to prevent Iran from closng the straits because western economies cannot stand the stress of an oil price shock. NATO will view Iran's "exercise" as an act of war.

Mamboni,
I'm of the opinion that "the straits of Hormuz threat" and the "30% of all oil goes through there" are attached at the hip.

Truth is, and has been exposed earlier here and elsewhere, that less than 10% of the world's oil moves thru SoH.

Mostly the oil comes out of European ports and flows E and South...

SoH for all practical purposes is yesterday's news. They can practice all they want, but if they expect to really use Oil as a threat card, they better get back to blowing up pipelines. WAAAAAAAAY more effective.

Kind of hard to blockade a basically unused FORMER oil chokepoint.

I'm thinking Tyler jumped the gun here, and a $2 move higher in oil as the result of this saber rattlin', ho-hum event is no big "explosion" higher. Kind of surprised at that, since I like reading Zero.

Now if it would have gone $96 to $250 in one gigantic thrust upwards, I'd be impressed. That not being the case, all this $2.20 ho-hum spike is reactive short covering by the floor traders on the NYMEX! Besides, Gold went down $10 high to low this AM...that's not a telegraph of a scared world market place.

At the moment, the Iranian towel heads just got their turban twisted for the most part.


beefsteak

[palani]

Odd .. gold usually follows oil. Gold is down $10.

[EE_]

Mamboni,
I'm of the opinion that "the straits of Hormuz threat" and the "30% of all oil goes through there" are attached at the hip.

Truth is, and has been exposed earlier here and elsewhere, that less than 10% of the world's oil moves thru SoH.

Mostly the oil comes out of European ports and flows E and South...

SoH for all practical purposes is yesterday's news. They can practice all they want, but if they expect to really use Oil as a threat card, they better get back to blowing up pipelines. WAAAAAAAAY more effective.

Kind of hard to blockade a basically unused FORMER oil checkpoint.


beefsteak

Iran is probably eyeing that option.

[midnight rambler]

Iran is probably eyeing that option.

"All options are on the table." --ruler of the Evil Empire

[EE_]

"All options are on the table." --ruler of the Evil Empire

Iran knows they are under attack...this thing could be on more then we know.

[osoab]

Odd .. gold usually follows oil. Gold is down $10.

The last few weeks, Ag and Oil have moved in tandem.

[MNeagle]

Very little info from Tehran Times. It's typical to announce a drill, but specify a 'start' and 'end' date/time. Not so here.

Saber-rattling?

[EE_]

Odd .. gold usually follows oil. Gold is down $10.

The dollar is about to break 80 on the index

[Spectrism]

Spec,
there's always the Ba'al v Yahweh bumper sticker...

Surprised you being a Bible thumper and all, missed the opportunity to post that version...:rolleyes:

I really have no idea what you are saying. If anyone can translate this, I would appreciate.

[Cebu_4_2]

The dollar is about to break 80 on the index

Done deal, what now?

[Book]

http://www.subvertednation.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/jews-fake-crying.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2005/09/04/business/04oil1.583.jpg

Israel has been threatening Iran for years with their "no option off the table".

Iran just turned the table.

:D brilliant

[EE_]

Done deal, what now?

More fleeing the euro, into dollars...gold goes lower.

[Horn]

ho-hum event is no big "explosion" higher. Kind of surprised at that, since I like reading Zero.

Iran the keeper of inflation, whoda thunk it?

[EE_]

Maybe some are pretending Iran closed it in order to implement their solution for this sort of problem.
At this point it'd be much more palatable for the world to accept Iran being attacked because they cut off the fuel supply than because they had a nuclear program.

A manufactured gas shortage might get the people on board to start a major war...they might even be willing to send their kids to die for it?

[midnight rambler]

A manufactured gas shortage might get the people on board to start a major war...they might even be willing to send their kids to die for it?

They've offered their children up for sacrifice on the altar of Moloch for lesser causes, so why the Hell not??

[Twisted Titan]

They will play up the SoH being the choke point for oil .....just like how they played up the mushroom cloud with saadam

[gunDriller]

someone didn't tell the gas stations.

they just lowered the price of diesel 5 cents a gallon.

guess it's time to fill up those gas cans i have in my garage (i have a gas truck and a diesel car).


i checked Drudge & Zero Hedge, no news about SoH on the front page there.

i haven't heard the war drums beat this long on a crusade to "get" a particular country ... EVER.

they were beating the drums about attacking Iran back in 2006.


Israel is very stupid. They make so many enemies around the world that if & when they are literally attacked by another country or group - not a false flag - that at least half the civilized world would see such an attack as progress.

If someone attacked another small country, e.g. New Zealand, there would be widespread outrage.

[brosil]

Israel can have 200+ illegal nuclear weapons in defiance of the international non-proliferation treaty and Iran cannot have just one, right?

I've heard the Air Force estimates around 700 nukes with about 150 city killers. They're improving their delivery systems as well. I believe they have an agreement with India to buy satellite launch vehicles.

[joboo]

Coming soon: Car that runs on milk...cheapest transportation ever.

[Ponce]

Jaboo? can I buy one of your magic cows?......will trade tp for one of them.

[Horn]

Jaboo? can I buy one of your magic cows?......will trade tp for one of them.

The Norwegians will do it with butter.

[joboo]

Jaboo? can I buy one of your magic cows?......will trade tp for one of them.

Ponce. My cows do work very hard, and I treat them like gold (and platinum).

A very nice gesture. Don't get me wrong, but I am a seasoned hardass, and I settle for nothing less than silver leaf, tightly coiled, polished Engelhard TP.

Put it this way. SilverArtBar got off easy on his bet with you. You got in early on IYDHIYDOI (If You Don't Hold It You Don't Own It). Lucky dog!

(Silver Art Bar may wish to comment on his "uber doomer elite" call of ultimate horseshoes at this point.)

;D