JAKARTA - Senior Iranian military officials said they maintained "full control" over the land, waters and airspace of the Strait of Hormuz amid concerns about a possible US attack on Tehran.
"Iran is not seeking war, but is fully prepared," Mohammad Akbarzadeh, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said in comments carried by the Fars News Agency, Anadolu reported (28/1).
"If a war breaks out, there will be no retreat, not even one millimeter, and Iran will continue to advance," he said.
Akbarzadeh said the management of the strategic route "has gone beyond traditional methods and is now fully intelligent," allowing Iran to continue to monitor all maritime, surface and underwater movements.
"Iran also controls the decision on whether ships flying different flags are allowed to pass through the strait," he continued.
"Iran does not want the global economy to suffer," he warned, adding that the US and its allies "will not be allowed to take advantage of the war they started."
The Iranian commander stressed that Tehran has additional capabilities "which will be revealed at the right time."
The narrow Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman is an important route for global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade, especially for oil from the Middle East, which accounts for a third of the world's seaborne crude oil shipments and a fifth of total world oil consumption.
Through the Strait of Hormuz, most of the 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products transported daily reach Asian markets, especially China. Most of Iran's oil is exported to the Bamboo Curtain through the waterway.
Around 85 percent of Iraqi oil is transported through the Strait of Hormuz, while Saudi Arabia accounts for 35 percent of the total oil transported through the waterway, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 20 percent and Iraq with 27 percent.
Meanwhile, about 20 percent of the world's LNG trade uses this waterway.
Tensions have escalated between Tehran and Washington following anti-government protests in Iran, with the US government saying all options, including military action, remain open in dealing with Tehran.
Iranian officials have warned that any US attack would trigger a "swift and comprehensive" response.
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