Iran tests missiles, renews Hormuz closure threat as EU oil embargo kicks in

Iranian Navy boats take part in maneuvers during the "Velayat-90" navy exercises in the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran, Jan. 3, 2012, at the end day of ten-day war games. / Getty

Updated at 6:51 a.m. Eastern

(CBS/AP) TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's official news agency official IRNA reports that the country's powerful Revolutionary Guards unit has launched several missiles in a military exercise.

Iran holds several military maneuvers per year, but the current one coincides with the beginning of a European Union oil embargo meant to pressure the country over its nuclear program.

The Tuesday report said the missiles, including long-range ones capable of hitting U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf, successfully hit their targets.

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Iran has balked at the EU oil embargo since it was first approved by the 27-nation bloc in January, with Tehran threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz - a vital shipping channel through which a fifth of the world's oil supply passes - in retaliation.

Reacting at the time, Ramin Mehmanparast, a spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, called the economic sanctions "illogical and unfair".

He said due to the world's long-term need for energy, "It is not possible to impose sanctions on Iran," which has huge resources of oil and gas.

Iranian lawmakers appeared to renew the threat of closing Hormuz off to international tanker traffic on Monday, as a member of parliament told news media a "bill has been developed as an answer to the European Union's oil sanctions".

According to the Reuters, MP Ibrahim Agha-Mohammadi told an Iranian news agency that the bill, "stresses the blocking of oil tanker traffic carrying oil to countries that have sanctioned Iran."

When Iran started making threats to close the Strait, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told CBS "Face the Nation" that Washington would simply "not tolerate" such a move by the Iranian military. (Click player at left to see interview with Panetta and General Martin Dempsey)

"That's another red line for us and that we will respond to them," he added.

General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added that while the Iranians have the capability to block the strait for a time, the U.S. would also be able to "defeat" them if it happened.

"They've invested in capabilities that could, in fact, for a period of time block the Straits of Hormuz. We've invested in capabilities to ensure that if that happens, we can defeat that," he said. "We've described that as an intolerable act. And it's not just intolerable for us, it's intolerable to the world. But we would take action and reopen the Straits."

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports that any closure of the Strait - regardless of brevity, would send global oil prices soaring.

(In the video at left, Palmer discusses Iran's apparent intentions with "CBS This Morning" co-hosts Jeff Glor and Erica Hill)

"There's saber-rattling on both sides," however, notes Palmer. "The U.S. has been building up its own military presence in the Persian Gulf as a deterrent to Iran, and also to Israel which has threatened to attack Iran's nuclear facilities."

The danger, says Palmer, is that with the tension building and U.S. and Iranian military vessels sailing withing close range of each other, "a mistake can so rapidly escalate into open conflict."

[cubscout09]

Last time Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, didn't we mistakenly shoot down one of their airliners?

[johnlockesghost]

They won't close the straights of Hormuz. It's a bluff.

[w_roos]

In the words of Harry Callahan: "Go ahead. Make my day."

[stevehamilton858]

I think you're right. If they try, they will also probably attack our ships, and then we can defed ourselves and destroy their navy and some shore batteries.

Then, when Israel opens its surgical strike bombing of Iran's nuclear sites, w can do a better job of backing up our ally. BTW, the war would be over by the end of the year, but still active at the election date; and who ever wants to change presidents during a war? This could change the whole dynamic of the domestic war between our two parties.

[smittyc]

Sounds like the oil companies wrote this article. It is quite clear the end result would be regime change if Iran acted to close the straits and I am not talking about just Ahmadjehad only but the Aytollahs as well. While it is common knowledge that Iran has a military and navy unsurpassed in the middle east and also has the conventional weapons to destroy all the infrastructure in the middle east, they still have only 20% of the military capability of the U.S. The question is will Iran be willing as a government to behave like a suicide bomber to make their point.

[stevehamilton858]

Yes - because of hubris. Just as the Japanese military culture could not allow them to consider surrendering, until we dropped two atom bombs, the Iranian leaders will not accept backing down

[mrjustice1]

By now, more than ample choices are available to us for replacing gasoline.

However, we are too complacent and lazy, to seriously wean ourselves off from oil dependency to fuel our cars, toys and other of our creature comforts.

[micmac666]

It may be too late. Maybe the next civilization will figure it out.

[Tarzan98]

Yeah, Iran Navy ships make great "artificial reefs" ! Fishing will improve.

[Nocults]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmsunken ships blocking the Straits.

Can we raise taxes on the rich to pay for their removal???????

[jwilsonte5]

Israel needs to man up take care of this but they act like girls and scared little boys!! woo better get america to spend its wealth protecting the little girls(israel) Now our oil will go up with this new embargo when will we have enough of this game israel plays they not problem beating up unarmed people west bank

[Nocults]

The CIA believed that Israel's first bombs may have been made with highly enriched uranium stolen in the mid-1960s from the U.S. Navy nuclear fuel plant operated by the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation, where sloppy material accounting would have masked the theft.[52][53]
By 1974 U.S. Intelligence believed Israel had stockpiled a small number of fission weapons,[54] and by 1979 were perhaps in a position to test a more advanced small tactical nuclear weapon or thermonuclear weapon trigger design.[55]

[retmw2]

earth

Remember the USS Liberty, and you think israel is our friend.

[formerlyluvnut]

Blah blah and blah. Could you imagine what it must smell like on one of those boats with all those guys covered in that nasty moozlum oil! GAWD it must be rough.

[Nocults]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.............the only nations with Patriot missiles are the USA and the Apartheid Israeli Welfare State.

The official publication of the shipping industry, The Maritime Executive states:
"Finnish police launched a probe on a ship bound for Shanghai, China, after they discovered 69 surface-to-air Patriot missiles, explosive materials, and propelling charges illegally aboard. " Note, what had been called by some "chemicals" are now "propelling charges." What they propel, of course, are guided missiles from nuclear submarines and plutonium and uranium components into contact to initiate nuclear explosions.

[stevehamilton858]

Yeah, but they don't notice, because each one smells just like everone else. I don't think too many Americans will be boarding any of Iran's boats. Their sailors will take the stink with them to the bottom of the Gulf.

[parisdakar]

If they shoot missles as straight as they drive their ships, we don't have anythong to worry about.

[Nocults]

So, as an Iranian sailor you got seasick??????????

[sweetcakesmaria]

earth my 56 IQ tells me that your country Israel is a perennial victim that to this day cries about a war that happened 70 years ago. Everyone is their enemy because they seem to think that it's ok to steal their neighbors land and kill them when they complain.God forbid you have anymore crybaby brothers and sisters like you. Stop hiding behind your sweety mother's apron and join the Israeli military so that you can do what the Israelis do best, kill women and children.

[Nocults]

Would it be OK for Russia to attack the USA if we close the port of New York????
How far are we willing to go to ensure the Israelis remain the only country in the Middle East with WMD's??????????????????????

Just saying????????????

[sweetcakesmaria]

Empiregeorge what country has Iran ever attacked? You've bought into the baloney of this terrorist crap. just because Israel refer to them as a rogue nation that supports terrorism doesn't make in factual. Israel call all countries that disagree with their land grabbing ideology terrorist. Iran has never attacked any of their neighbors but can that be said of Israel.

[sweetcakesmaria]

earth56 you along with Israel can go to hell. America has already destroyed one country (Iraq) because Israel is afraid of its shadow. If they feel threatened by Iran, let them send their boys/girls into war and you can join them. Good hunting arse hole.