Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri has indicated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open so long as Iran was able to export its oil through the strait.
"As long as Iran is able to export its oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and there is no obstacle restricting the departure and arrival of our ships, the waterway will remain open," Tangsiri said, speaking to Iran's Arabic-language tevision channel Al-Alam, according to Tasnim News Agency.
Earlier, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said that Iran had developed and implemented a number of initiatives "that would neutralize the illegal US sanctions against Iran's export of oil." The official added that he "hoped" Iran would not have to use one of the "multiple methods" at its disposal of blocking the Strait of Hormuz.The strategic waterway, situated between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is a key energy transit point, with roughly 20 percent of the world's oil, and about a third of all petroleum shipped by sea, passing through it.
Despite earlier threats to bring Iranian crude exports down "to zero," Washington granted 'temporary waivers' on exports to major customers China, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Greece, and Turkey, as well as Taiwan.
Earlier this month, Iranian media reported that the country's oil revenues jumped by nearly 50 percent in 2018 despite the US sanctions.
