Washington: US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday that America’s military is capable to defeat any Iranian attempt to shut down sea commerce in the oil-rich Gulf region and will hold Tehran directly responsible for shipping disruptions.
“The United States is fully prepared for all contingencies here,” Panetta told a Pentagon news conference. “We’ve invested in capabilities to ensure that the Iranian attempt to close down shipping in the Gulf is something that we are going to be able to defeat, if they make a decision to do that.”
Iran threatened to close the vital Strait of Hormuz unless the international community revokes sanctions imposed on its oil shipments, Reuters reported.
Earlier, an Indian fisherman was killed and three others were wounded when a security team aboard a US Navy oiler opened fire on a small boat off the United Arab Emirates this week after it failed to heed warnings to alter its course.
The U.S. military announced on Tuesday more than 20 countries would participate in anti-mine exercises in the region in September. The exercises will not take place in the Strait and the Pentagon denied it was sending a message to Iran.
Panetta said Washington was prepared to respond to any move against sea commerce by Tehran.
“The Iranians need to understand that the United States and the international community are going to hold them directly responsible for any disruption of shipping in that region, by Iran or for that matter by its surrogates,” he said.
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