Saturday, January 7, 2012

FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 2, 2012 file photo released by Iranian Students News Agency, ISNA, on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, a Ghader missile is launched at the shore of sea of Oman during Iran's navy drill. The missile, called Ghader, or Capable in Farsi, was described as an upgraded version of a missile that has been in service before. During a graduation at Iran's main army academy, the country's leader effectively sketched out the Islamic Republic's tougher military posture. Iran's must never hesitate to display its power in a hard-edged world where the weak pay the price, he told the newly minted officers. Less than two months later, Khamenei's words were echoed by commanders who warned that Iran could block oil tanker shipping lanes in the Gulf in retaliation for sanctions and described foreign forces _ including a recent visit by an U.S. aircraft carrier _ as unwelcome interlopers in the region. (AP Photo/ISNA, Amir Kholousi, File)

Iranian officials have struck a defiant posture in response to a proposed oil embargo by the European Union, calling the intensified efforts to halt Iran's nuclear program, including new sanctions by the United States, tantamount to "an economic war," and pledging to conduct a new round of military drills near the Strait of Hormuz.

The strong words came after a series of escalating military and diplomatic responses by Iran in recent weeks amid growing pressure from Western powers. On Tuesday, Iran warned the United States that it would take action if an American aircraft carrier that left the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz were to return. The United States has said the threats would not cause it to alter military deployments.

The Iranian military, fresh off 10 days of naval exercises near the strait that ended this week, vowed to hold a new round of war games soon. The defense minister, Brig. Ahmad Vahidi, in comments reported by the semiofficial Fars news agency late Thursday, said the military's exercises would be "its greatest naval war games" and would occur "in the same region in the near future."

Britain, adding its voice to the chorus of diplomatic responses, cautioned that any attempt by Iran to close the strait would be "illegal and unsuccessful." The comments, by Defense Secretary Philip Hammond, were delivered during his first visit to the Pentagon since he became Britain's defense minister in the fall and appeared to indicate strong resolve by the West to keep the strategically important strait open for trade.

"It is in all our interests that the arteries of global trade are kept free, opening and running," Hammond said, according to news reports.

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