U.S. & Iran will directly negotiate?

The U.S. proposed a direct negotiation to Iran, Iranian MP Ali Motahhari said, Fars reported. Motahhari revealed the details of the message that was sent to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from the U.S. that any move to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz would amount to crossing the "red line" that would provoke an American response.

The warning was conveyed to the top Iranian brass through a secret channel. Iran has threatened that it would close the Strait of Hormuz, which is just 45 kms wide at its narrowest point and works as a crucial waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, in the event of a military strike or severe tightening of international sanctions on its oil exports.

US officials said that they believe that Iran's threat were a bluster and an attempt to drive up the price of oil and blocking the route used by majority of Iran's petroleum exports would amount to economic suicide.

But Pentagon officials who plan for every contingency say that Iran has the capability to close the Strait although Tehran's forces are hardly a match for those of the US. US forces believe that Iran has deployed heavily armed speed boats, anti-ship cruise missiles along the Persian Gulf coastline posing a threat to US forces.


/Trend/