Iran Has Other Ways to Stop Oil Flow Besides Closing Strait of Hormuz - Official

Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Ismail Kowsari reportedly stated in July that Iran may close the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic from the Persian Gulf if the United States renews sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has designed and put into practice initiatives that would neutralise the illegal US sanctions against Iran’s export of oil", Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said, as quoted by the Tasnim News Agency.

He stressed that the United States could not undermine Iran's determination, even if the pressure inflicts costs on Tehran, Tasnim News Agency reported.

"Although the Islamic Republic of Iran’s military capabilities and extensive capacities have been proved to professional observers and there is no need to mention and repeat it, a cut in the export of oil would not be necessarily tantamount to a blockage of [the] Strait of Hormuz. There are multiple methods to make that happen, and we hope we would not have to use them", the top official noted, as quoted by the agency.

READ MORE: Iran's Oil Revenues Increased by Almost 50% Despite Sanctions — Reports

The statements come after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani noted in January that there are various approaches open for Iran to sell its oil despite the US sanctions.

The United States imposed a new set of sanctions on Iran in November 2018, following alleged plans to drive Iran's oil exports to zero.

In May, Washington reinstated sanctions against Tehran following the US' withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement. The first round of sanctions came into force in August.