Monday, 16 January 2012Iran's recent statements concerning the Strait of Hormuz and the crisis in relations with the U.S were not sharp. Therefore, the strait will not be closed, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said in an interview with Cumhurriyet yesterday.
"The parties [the U.S. and Iran] softened their positions on this issue, realizing that it will be impossible to achieve their goals by the war," Minister said.
A number of Iranian leaders voiced the threats of possible closure of movement through the Strait of Hormuz connecting the Persian and Oman gulfs. These statements were supported by large-scale naval exercises with the rocket firing that took place in the waters of the Strait earlier this month. If Tehran moves from words to actions, then it will hit oil exporters, most of which is Saudi Arabia, as well as consumers, who are almost all Western countries.
Minister said that the sanctions imposed on Iran, are still the subject of long debates. Minister also said that Iran is Turkey's neighbor and partner, so Turkey should act within the bilateral relations.
"Turkey and Iran can implement many interesting projects," Yildiz said.
There are unilateral sanctions of the U.S., Great Britain and Canada against the energy and financial sectors of the Iranian economy. The French authorities support the introduction of new, "unprecedented" sanctions, including freezing of assets of the Iranian Central Bank, as well as the suspension of Iranian oil purchase. The Japanese authorities expressed their willingness to reduce imports of Iranian oil.
The reason for new sanctions was the IAEA report. According to it, Iran conducted the operations aimed at developing nuclear weapons until 2003 and that this activity may be conducted up to now. The U.S., Israel and several Western countries suspect Iran of trying to create nuclear weapons. The Iranian government says that its nuclear program is peaceful. |
Monday, 16 January 2012
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