Sputnik - Tehran earlier warned Washington against limiting its energy exports, vowing to otherwise close the exit from the Persian Gulf. Considering that a significant part of the world's oil exports goes through the strait at the Persian Gulf's mouth, such a blockade could strongly affect the global energy market.




The Iranian Students' News Agency reported, citing Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, that Iran has deployed 58 fleets to�the northern Indian Ocean and the Gulf of�Aden, situated just outside�of the Persian Gulf�� the source to�a major part of�the world's oil exports.

In an address to�the people of�Semnan Province on�4 December, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reiterated threats to�prevent all oil exports from�the Persian Gulf in�the event the US curbs Tehran's own exports.
"If someday, the United States decides to�block Iran's oil [exports], no oil will be exported from�the Persian Gulf," Rouhani said.


The Iranian president also vowed that ultimately the US won't be able to�halt Tehran's oil trade and promised that the country will emerge victorious from�the confrontation with�Washington.

Relations between�the US and Iran took a nosedive after�US President Trump announced the country would be exiting the Iranian nuclear deal and re-imposing sanctions against�Tehran's energy and banking sectors. In return, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian officials warned the US against�attempting to�curb Tehran's oil trade, promising to�block the Strait of�Hormuz, the only exit from�the Persian Gulf�� one of�the key sources of�oil exports in�the world.

In December, the US announced it would be sending an aircraft carrier strike group to�the Persian Gulf in�the near�future after�a decades-long absence of�the US fleet in�the region. The group is expected to�maintain a presence in�the region for�around two months to "provide deterrence" against�any potentially hostile Iranian activity in�the waters, an unnamed official told The Wall Street Journal.