- 鈥楢part from closing Strait of Hormuz, we have other options to stop oil flow if threatened鈥�
- 鈥業ran has plans in place that will neutralize the illegal US sanctions against Iran鈥檚 oil exports鈥�
DUBAI: Iran said on Saturday it had many options to neutralize the reimposition of US sanctions on its oil exports, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, adding that Tehran鈥檚 regional influence could not be curbed as demanded by Washington.
鈥淎part from closing Strait of Hormuz, we have other options to stop oil flow if threatened,鈥� Secretary of Iran鈥檚 Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani told Tasnim. 鈥淚ran has plans in place that will neutralize the illegal US sanctions against Iran鈥檚 oil exports,鈥� Shamkhani said. 鈥淲e have many ways to sell our oil.鈥�
Tensions between Iran and the US increased after US President Donald Trump pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers last May, and then reimposed sanctions on the Islamic republic.
The restoration of sanctions is part of a wider effort by Trump to force Iran to further curb its nuclear and missile programs as well as its support for proxy forces in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.
Washington had been pushing governments to cut imports of Iranian oil to zero. But, fearing a price spike, it granted waivers to eight Iranian oil buyers when the sanctions on oil imports started last November.
Iranian officials have threatened to disrupt oil shipments from the Gulf countries if Washington tries to strangle Tehran鈥檚 oil exports.
Carrying one-third of the world鈥檚 seaborne oil every day, the Strait of Hormuz links Middle East crude producers to key markets in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and beyond.
鈥淭here are multiple ways to make that (blockage of Hormuz) happen. We hope we would not be forced to use them,鈥� Shamkhani said.
Iran has been President Bashar Assad鈥檚 most supportive ally against insurgents throughout the nearly eight-year Syrian civil war.
鈥淲e have achieved 90 percent of Iran鈥檚 goals in Syria,鈥� said Shamkhani, a close ally of Iran鈥檚 top authority Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
鈥淭here will be important developments in promoting the deterrence capability of the resistance front in Syria,鈥� said Shamkhani when asked about Israel鈥檚 鈥減ossible future attacks鈥� in Syria, according to Tasnim.
鈥淚ran is capable of confronting any military threat ... Trump and Israel are well aware of Iran鈥檚 military might,鈥� Shamkhani said. Iran often refers to regional countries and forces opposed to Israel and the US as a 鈥渞esistance axis.鈥�
Israel, increasingly concerned that its enemy Iran may establish a long-term military presence in neighboring Syria, says it has carried out over 200 attacks against Iranian targets in Syria in the last two years.
Defying Israeli threats that they might be targeted if they do not leave the country, Iran says it will continue to provide military advisers to Syria for as long as necessary in support of Assad鈥檚 forces.
鈥淭hey know that they cannot enter a war with Iran. That is why they publicly threaten Iran.鈥�