• TENSIONS ARE ON THE RISE BETWEEN THE U.S AND IRAN
—The U.S and Israel don’t want Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
›Despite widespread doubts, the U.S government accused the Iranian government of hiring a Mexican drug cartel to assassinate the Saudi ambassador. They insists the plot is legitimate.
› Thee Obama administration wants to impose new economic sanctions to punish and isolate Iran as a price to pay for this kind of behavior.
›U.S drone crashes on Iran. CIA has sent many drones into Iran to spy suspected nuclear sites.
›Iran rejects U.S. demand for the return of a U.S. drone.
›Iran Threatens to Block Oil Passage (Strait of Hormuz) if President Obama enacts new economic sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports. “Not a drop of oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz,"— Iran’s Vice President.
›About one-fifth of the world’s oil is said to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
› U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, said any disruption of the strait "will not be tolerated.” Iran meanwhile says it has video of a U.S. aircraft carrier during a naval exercise near the strait.
• Economic Sanctions are measures to attack Iran’s economy by imposing tariffs, trade barriers, import duties, import or export quotas, and punishing any other countries who keep doing business with Iran.
Sources:
•DemocracyNow.org:
—U.S. Warns Iran on Threat to Close Passageway. 12/29/11
—Iran Threatens to Block Oil Passage if U.S. Enacts Sanctions. 12/28/11
—Iran Demands U.S. Apology for Recovered Drone. 12/14/11
—Obama Vows New Sanctions on Iran. 10/14/11
•CNN
—Dangerous mix: Iranian oil and U.S. sanctions.12/29/11