Iranian general criticizes Rouhani’s threat of closing Strait of Hormuz

Iranian former IRGC naval commander Maj. Gen. Hossein Alaei criticizes threats issued by Iran President Hassan Rouhani and a number of military officials to close the Strait of Hormuz if new oil sanctions are imposed against Tehran.

In an interview with Iranian news agency IRNA, Alaei considered such kind of statements as “not well thought out,” adding that “Iran is unable to close the Strait of Hormuz, but America is capable to reopen it.”

Alaei – who currently heads Iran’s Aseman Airlines which is on the US sanctions’ list for supporting terror and for its role in shipping weapons to pro-Iranian militias in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries – is considered one of the most prominent military personalities close to the reformist bloc in the Iranian political system.

Political analysts considered Alaei’s comments to be skeptical about Iran’s capability to close the Strait of Hormuz which is a strategic artery linking Middle East crude producers to key markets in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and beyond.

Recently and during his European trip, the Iranian president threatened on Tuesday during his to block oil shipments from neighboring countries, by closing the Strait of Hormuz.

While the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Qasem Soleimani, praised Rouhani’s statements on the threat of regional oil exports if sanctions were imposed on Iran’s oil exports.

Later on the US Navy issued a statement saying that it stands ready to ensure freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce.