US: Naval blockade of Iran not resort to air strikes

An international naval blockade of Iranian oil exports should be considered before any resort to air strikes against the country’s disputed nuclear program, the chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee said on Friday. “That’s, I think, one option that needs to be considered” to boost pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear program in line with UN Security Council resolutions, Democratic Senator Carl Levin said in an interview taped for C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” program. He said any such blockade should be preceded by lining up alternative oil supplies to avoid a price spike on world crude markets. Iran is OPEC’s second-largest oil producer and the world’s third-largest petroleum exporter. Levin was responding to a question about possible ways of increasing pressure short of combat, including imposition of a “no-fly zone” over Iran. Such moves “could be very effective,” he said. “I think (these are) options that whoever is willing to participate should explore, including Israel and including the United States.” Iran is widely suspected of enriching uranium, and other activities, as a prelude to building nuclear weapons. Tehran says the program is aimed at producing civilian nuclear power. The international response to Iran’s nuclear program has evolved into a widespread consensus for substantial sanctions and other pressure, paired with incentives and diplomacy, to head off the possible development of nuclear arms. Israeli leaders have said, however, that time is running out before they could feel compelled to launch military strikes to stop or delay the program. Levin voiced optimism that increasingly strict sanctions, including an oil purchase embargo by the European Union to take full effect by July 1, might force Iran to relent. “Not because it doesn’t want a nuke - I think it does - but because the price that it’s going to have to pay” in terms of isolation would be too high, said Levin, whose committee has an oversight role for the U.S. Defense Department. Levin said President Barack Obama should seek congressional authorization before any US resort to military action against Iran. But he noted that presidents from both parties had maintained they were not bound to do so as commander in chief of U.S. armed forces. A senior Obama administration official, asked about Levin’s remarks, said, “Our focus remains on a diplomatic solution, as we believe diplomacy coupled with strong pressure can achieve the long-term solution we seek.” Wouldn’t be surprised if Israel acts Levin said he would not be surprised if the Jewish state, which regards a nuclear-armed Iran as a threat to its existence, took military action within “months.” “I would say that a strike is likely” if Iran continues to refuse to curb its nuclear program, he added. He said U.S.-supported Israeli missile defense programs had undercut Iran’s ability to retaliate against Israel for any strike. Asked why Israel alone should be allowed to have nuclear arms in the region, Levin cited the Holocaust, the genocide of about 6 million European Jews during World War Two by Nazi Germany, and what he called similar threats throughout history. In addition, he said, Israel still faced a threat of being wiped out by some of its neighbors, “so it’s a deterrent against that kind of a threat.” Israel has charged for years that Iran is trying to make nuclear weapons. The U.S. and many of its other allies suspect that Iran\'s nuclear program could be aimed at weapons manufacture, but they believe the final decision has not been made. Iran insists its program is peaceful. Israel considers Iran an existential threat because of its nuclear and missile programs, its support of violent anti-Israel groups in the region and frequent calls for destruction of the Jewish state. An Israeli official claimed Thursday that new satellite images support Israel\'s contention that Tehran is developing an atomic bomb. Satellite pictures provided by unspecified member countries to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, appear to show trucks and earth-moving vehicles at Iran\'s Parchin military site. Diplomats said the images suggest the trucks could be carting away radioactive material created in nuclear testing. The Israeli official said the pictures “reinforce what Israel has been saying all along ... the Iranian nuclear program is not benign.” He spoke on condition of anonymity because no government statement was made.