Threats to Close Strait of Hormuz in Iranian TV Animation: America's Withdrawal from the JCPOA Has Forced Us to Adopt New Foreign Policy

On July 30, 2019, Ofogh TV (Iran) aired an animated video about Iran's strategy regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The narrator said that 18 million barrels of crude oil, 30% of the world's natural gas, and 50% of the region's international business deals go through the Strait of Hormuz, and he said that America's withdrawal from the JCPOA and enforcement of economic sanctions against Iran have forced Iran to adopt a new foreign policy. The narrator said that if Iran's oil production drops to zero, Iran is willing to take "a powerful preemptive measure" to protect its national interests by closing the Strait of Hormuz, which he predicted would cause the price of oil to increase beyond $250 per barrel. He also predicted that closing the Strait of Hormuz would cause almost all the oil wells in the region to close, and that it would cause other Middle Eastern countries to go into a rapid economic "free fall." The video was produced by the Iranian broadcasting authority's Basij Center.

Narrator: "The Strait of Hormuz is undoubtedly one of the three main international arteries for the transportation of energy in the world. Every day, almost 18 million barrels of crude oil are transferred by huge tankers through this bottleneck. Aside from oil, 30% of the natural gas consumed annually by the world and 50% of the business deals that countries in the region conduct with the world pass through this strait to the rest of the world. Trump's withdrawal from the JCPOA, the unilateral re – imposing of the sanctions, and the comprehensive trade war the U.S. is waging against Iran in an attempt to disrupt its security and national stability are forcing Iran to adopt a new foreign policy.

"The closing of the Strait of Hormuz is not part of the strategic policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, if Iran's oil production drop to zero, Iran will act to prevent the danger to its economic security and national interests. Iran will take a powerful preemptive measure. Iran has a long coast line and many islands [in the Persian Gulf]. Therefore, its hands are not tied when it comes to closing [the Strait], disrupting maritime transportation, or at least, protecting its territorial waters. Foreign experts have repeatedly acknowledged Iran's classic and high-quality naval military capabilities. In any case, closing the Strait of Hormuz will cause a shortage of 20 million barrels in the world's oil markets, and the price of oil will probably increase beyond $250 dollar per barrel. This means the closing of 90% of the oil wells, as well as the rapid free fall of the economies of the countries in the region."