Iran official says missiles can reach ships in Gulf

TEHRAN (Reuters) – A top adviser of Iran’s supreme leader said that in the event of war no ship passing through the oil-rich Gulf region would be beyond the reach of the country’s missiles, a government newspaper reported on Thursday.

Iran, embroiled in a standoff with the West over its nuclear ambitions, has said it could respond to any military attack by closing the strait at the southern end of the Gulf through which about 40 percent of the world’s traded oil passes.


The United States, whose Fifth Fleet is based in the Gulf state of Bahrain, has vowed to keep shipping lanes opened.

The West accuses Tehran of seeking to build nuclear warheads but Iran, the world’s fourth largest oil producer, insists its aim is to master technology to make electricity. Washington has not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to end the row.

Reuters