Saudis dismissive of Iran's oil blockade threats

People gather around a car as it is removed by a mobile crane in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 11, 2012, in this photo provided by the semi-official Fars News Agency. / AP Photo/Fars News Agency

Saudi Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi, on February 22, 2011, in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

/ FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Image

A Saudi Arabian official attempted to undercut one of Iran's most potent threats to the world community Monday when he said in an interview that his country would make up for any oil production shortfalls caused by Iranian actions.

As international pressure on Iran over its nuclear program increases, the Islamic Republic has threatened to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, through which 17 million barrels of oil passed per day in 2011, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

Speaking to CNN, Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said his country could boost production enough to meet that potential shortfall, and he also expressed doubt that Iran could succeed in closing the strait at all.

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"I personally do not believe that the strait, if it were shut, will be shut for any length of time. The world cannot stand for that," he said.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have been in a bitter struggle in recent years as each seeks greater influence in regional affairs. Often, the Shiites of Iran and the Sunnis of Saudi Arabia side with their ethnic kin in regional disputes, and Iran's growing nuclear program has become a major point of contention.

While the Iranians insist their nuclear program is for civilian purposes, Saudi Arabia is among the many in the international community who do not believe them.

In June of last year, a senior official in Riyadh said: "We cannot live in a situation where Iran has nuclear weapons and we don't. It's as simple as that. If Iran develops a nuclear weapon, that will be unacceptable to us and we will have to follow suit."

The Saudi threat to boost oil production has already rattled some in the Iranian government. If the Saudis make good on the threat, the country's OPEC envoy threatened Saudi Arabia and other states who might follow suit, according to Al Jazeera.

"We would not consider these actions to be friendly," Mohammad Ali Khatibi said on Saturday, according to Sharq newspaper. "They will be held responsible for what happens ... one cannot predict the consequences."

[nineknot]

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...
Dont forget who the saudi's are and what they stand for.
they "act" as allies but are they really?

[lilbear925]

It seems to me that Iran would be totally incapable of determining by any means just how much oil any other nation was shipping. Their statement that they could not "predict the consequences" if anyone actually did make up for the lack of Iranian oil means only one thing. The Iranians simply do not know what they would do in that event. They seem to be all bluster and no action. I'm certain we'll all know when/if it happens.

[OnceALiberalNowAModerate]

It would make me even happier if Saudi Arabia would use some of the nice new fancy American made aircraft and other weapons, and would go after Iran on their own, instead of waiting for us to spill more American blood in defense of another Muslim country.

[WildBill935]

If Iran develop a nuclear weapon, that will almost happen simultaneously, from more countries primarily Sunni.

[involved_indi]

Iran is a pariah in the world run by an egomanic and religious zealots. They live by 16th century standards are are angry and bitter that "the west" has prospered and is leading the world while they remain mired in the dark ages.

[venusvegasvada]

Thank you Saudi Arabia.

Take note of this country. Do they go around threatening their neighbors? Building nuclear bombs?

Sane, adult leadership. It's exactly what Iran is not.