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Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/28/tehrans-moment-of-truth/
The Mullahs Are Playing with Fire in Strait of Hormuz
(Washington Times) Editorial - Iran's threat makes no economic sense. Closing the strait would shut off Iran's main source of income and deny its people necessary imports such as gasoline, food and consumer goods. The hardships of a closure would fall mainly on the Islamic regime as the rest of the world adjusted to the temporary and relatively minor oil shortage. Closing the strait makes even less military sense. Iran would assume the role of the aggressor. There are significant legal ramifications for initiating the use of overt military force in an international waterway. Iran's navy - comprising eight light surface warships, two dozen nonnuclear submarines and numerous small attack boats - would quickly be destroyed. Any air assets in the theater would be eliminated. Land-based anti-ship missile batteries would be hunted down and bombed. If the Islamic Republic wants to commit suicide, then by all means, close the Strait of Hormuz right away.