Any Iranian move to blockade the Straits of Hormuz would be considered as an "act of war," a top US military official said Monday. Outgoing Fifth Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Kevin Cosgriff said Iran would "not be allowed" to take control of the key oil route and that an attempt to do so would provoke a "vigorous" international response.
He was responding to Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander General Mohammed Ali Jafari's warning on Saturday that Iran would seal off the straits if the country was attacked.
"I cannot imagine, given the critical nature of that body of water, that the international community would not be outraged should Iran or any entity move to restrict the freedom of navigation," Vice-Admiral Cosgriff told a press conference at the US navy base in Juffair.