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U.S. Warns Iran to Keep Strait of Hormuz Open

(Los Angeles Times) U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Iran on Sunday that any attempt to carry out its threat to choke off the world's oil supply by closing the Strait of Hormuz would draw a quick U.S. military response. "We made very clear that the United States will not tolerate the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz," Panetta said. "That's another red line for us and we will respond to them." Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged that the Iranians could block tanker traffic "for a period of time." "We've invested in capabilities to ensure that if that happens, we can defeat that," Dempsey said. "But we would take action and reopen the strait." Panetta also said the U.S. would consider it a "red line" if Iran begins to develop a nuclear weapon. "I think they need to know that...if they take that step, that they're going to get stopped," Panetta said. "Are they trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No," Panetta said. "But we know that they're trying to develop a nuclear capability. And that's what concerns us. And our red line to Iran is, 'Do not develop a nuclear weapon.'"
2012-01-09 00:00:00
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