Iran to close Hormuz Strait if threatened: says Cmdr.

The chairman of Iran’s Joint Chiefs of Staff has reiterated that the Islamic Republic does have the plan to shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz but would only execute it if the nation’s security is threatened.

“We do have the plan to close the Strait of Hormuz since a member of the military must plan for all scenarios,” said Major General Seyed Hassan Firuzabadi Friday night on the sidelines of the Conference on the Doctrine of Mahdism, Mehr News Agency reported.

“However,” he added, “a Shia nation acts reasonably and would not approve of the interruption of a waterway through which 40 percent of the world’s energy supply passes, unless our interests are seriously threatened.”

General Firuzabadi further stated that “our control over the Hormuz Strait remains smart and reasonable.”

The top Iranian commander also commented on the Syrian situation, predicting that the outcome of the current developments in the Arab country will turn out “very good, and the Syrian nation will succeed.”

He insisted that Syria will remain at the forefront of resisting the Israeli regime, noting that “the Syrian nation, its new parliament and [President] Bashar al-Assad are well aware of this.”

Commenting on the recent missile drill by the Islamic Revolution’s Guards Corps (IRGC), General Firuzabadi emphasized that the drill was chiefly intended to examine the readiness of forces and the capabilities of logistics and engineering units, as well as testing the accuracy of weaponry.

The commander also noted that the drill was based on operational planning and realistic battle scenarios and that Iran has never threatened anyone except those who intend or express their intent to harm us.

The IRGC’s missile drill, the Great Prophet 7, started in the central Iranian province of Semnan on July 2 and wrapped up on July 4.

The domestically-produced missiles, including Shahab (Meteor) 1, 2, 3, Khalij Fars (Persian Gulf), Tondar (Lightning), Fateh (Victor) and Zelzal (Quake) as well as Qiam (Uprising), were fired at mock targets during the drill.

Iran has repeatedly assured other nations, especially regional neighbors, that its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.