Business

Iran Firing on ‘Mock Bases’ & a Standoff With the West: Here’s What You Need to Know

Tensions Building in Iran | U.S. Buildup of Forces in Persian Gulf | Strait of Hormuz | Israel | Oil

(Photo: AP)

Iran, whose nuclear program is the source of all this international tension, has grown increasingly bold in recent weeks as Israel refuses to rule out military action, and the United States and Europe intensify economic sanctions.

Now Iran seems to be issuing both implied and explicit threats to Israel and the West. Here’s what you need to know.

The U.S. Is Increasing its Numbers in the Persian Gulf

Nearly one fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States has no intention of allowing the Iranians to block it. The United States has “quietly moved military reinforcements to the Persian Gulf,” including, most visibly, a buildup of Navy ships in the region, according to the New York Times.

“The message to Iran is, ‘Don’t even think about it,’ ” one senior Defense Department official said. “Don’t even think about closing the strait. We’ll clear the mines. Don’t even think about sending your fast boats out to harass our vessels or commercial shipping. We’ll put them on the bottom of the gulf.”

“Swift Retaliation”

But our presence has not gone unnoticed. If there is any form of attack against the Iranian regime, the country’s officials have vowed to hit both Israel and Western forces in the region.

The Associated Press reports:

Iran’s semi-official news agency Fars is reporting the country can destroy nearby U.S. military bases and strike Israel within minutes of an attack on the Islamic Republic.

The Wednesday report quotes Gen. Ami Ali Hajizadeh of the powerful Revolutionary Guards as saying U.S. bases, and Israel – which he referred to as “occupied territories” – are in range of Iran’s missiles and could be struck as a retaliatory measure.

“Measures have been taken so that we could destroy all these bases in the early minutes of an attack,” reiterated Hajizadeh, chief of the Guards’ airspace division.

Firing on “Mock Enemy Bases”

Unlike in years past, when the country’s weapons program was far less developed, it would be unwise to rule out Iran’s ability to retaliate.

ABC reports that, to disrupt U.S. interests, Iran doesn’t necessarily need a nuclear weapon.  A few mines could inflict significant damage:

Tensions Building in Iran | U.S. Buildup of Forces in Persian Gulf | Strait of Hormuz | Israel | Oilvideo platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

ABC elaborates:

The Iranian military has launched a barrage of missiles at “mock enemy bases” as part of a major war games exercise aimed at dissuading any potential outsider attack, the nation’s state-run media reported Tuesday.

During what is called “The Great Prophet 7” drills, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) “targeted and destroyed hypothetical bases of ultra-regional forces set up in desert areas,” according to Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency. The reports did not identify the “ultra-regional forces” but alluded to the ongoing diplomatic conflict between Iran and the U.S., which has several major military installations in the region.

“The main aim of this drill was to demonstrate the Iranian nation’s political resolve to defend [its] vital values and national interests,” IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami said, according to another state-run news outlet, Press TV. Press TV paraphrased Salami’s description of the drills as a “firm response to those who threaten Iran with the option of military action.”

Oil Prices

Even if the Strait of Hormuz remains open, the tension can still impact the cost of oil. The AFP reports:

Oil prices shot up Tuesday on fresh tensions over Iran, where lawmakers threatened to shut the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for oil sanctions, and after a strike shuttered production in Norway.

New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for August, soared $3.91 to close at $87.66 a barrel.

In London trade, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in August settled at $100.68 a barrel, jumping $3.34 from Monday’s closing level.

“With Iran oil out and Norway on strike it is giving the oil market reason to bounce!” said Phil Flynn at Price Futures Group.

(H/T: Drudge)

Comments (63)

1 2
  • routnom23
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:25pm

    Thank you Iran for the tons of intelligence we got from your exercises.

    Report Post »  
    • rickc34
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:10pm

      They would run just like Iraq , we would win the war only to lose the battle paying for everything just like Iraq. Obama will not do anything because of Iran’s relationship with Russia

      Report Post »  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:35pm

      .
      Hey Iran.
      Mock bases don’t shoot back,
      wait until you see the real thing.

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • techengineer11
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:23am

      Does anyone else believe that America and the Jews should quit threatening and taunting Iran? What if Iran/China/Russia had carriers in the GOM? I bet many would demand they leave or be sunk? But we can cruise around over in their Gulf like we owned and you idiots believe that you are entitled to that sort of arrogance.

      Iran has shown great restraint. Personally I don’t know how they are able to do it but they have. That being said our Jewish run Gov’t would gladly sacrifice 2 aircraft carriers, multiple ships and planes, and 10k US soldiers for the ability to annilihate the current regime in Iran… Sorry US GIs you’re just collateral damage…

      Go USA! Woo hoo!! USA #1 We number 1! Red, White, and Blue Baby! We rock! We #1! lol

      Bunch of embiciles! Have you no freaking clue that Russia and China have both said NO to further bullying and hostile actions in the Middle East.. Others are sick of what our Jewish gov’t is doing and they are not going to tolerate any more… Is denying Iran a nuclear weapon really worth the start of WW3???

      I say HELL NO! Absolutely not!

      Let the Jews fight their own damn Wars! Sick of this Jewish domination of US foreign policy!

      Report Post » techengineer11  
    • techengineer11
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:20am

      Another post that didn’t even make it pass the censors eh? lol

      Report Post » techengineer11  
  • MrKnowItAll
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:15pm

    Take All Woman of Iran’s Ha-bibs. This will get them fighting amongst themselves. Send in Covert operations Teams and Kill Anyone there wearing clothing other then Mini Skirts. It’s that Simple.

    Report Post » MrKnowItAll  
  • tomloy
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:58pm

    The Iranians are bluffing. They don’t have the intestinal fortitude to take on the US and Israel. Go ahead and fire your missiles at Israel and the US. The US has ABMs positioned in the region and Israel has a working ABM system of its own. Attack US bases the US will respond in kind. F22s can penetrate your air defenses. And Israel actually made the neutron bomb the US never did.

    Report Post »  
  • trueamerican40
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:55pm

    Bad news. Thanks to the Communist Czar in the Ovary Office…the mullahs will develop nuclear weapons. Good news. They’ll blow themselves up.

    Report Post » trueamerican40  
  • fixer
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:20pm

    take out their air force and missile command first.then kill everyone in their capital with one big daisycutter.they’ll shut up after that.

    Report Post »  
    • dawghowse
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:35pm

      The daisy cutter isn’t big enough….use the MOAB and 3 or 4 in an interval of about 1 minute. That will do it.

      Report Post » dawghowse  
    • Todd P
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:36pm

      Howabout 1776 minutes of alternating MOABs and Daisy Cutters?! Throw in some fireworks just for the pyrotechnic effect – it’ll look great on film, and we could play it over and over again!!!

      Report Post »  
    • riseandshine
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 10:56pm

      Yeah man…..cool.

      Report Post » riseandshine  
  • All Pro
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:04pm

    Iraq, Libya, Syria and Iran don’t have central banks controlled by the Rothschilds.
    Update
    Iraq now has a central bank owned by the Rothschilds
    Update 2
    Libya had a Rothschilds central bank TWO WEEKS after the CIA started the revolution.
    Well that only leaves Syria and Iran
    To the people of Syria and Iran, prepare thy anus!
    To the conservative lunatics, RON PAUL IS RIGHT!

    Report Post » All Pro  
    • warhorse_03826
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:26pm

      I love people who worship ron paul like he is the second coming.

      newsflash..ron paul won’t live forever. fight for a cause, not a man.

      Report Post » warhorse_03826  
  • BryanB
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 3:51pm

    The only way a successful attack could be carryed out by Iran, is if infiltrators came up from Mexico, and attacked key points with-in the United States. And also if there are additional attacks in Europe, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. That would require full involvement from China and Russia……

    Report Post » BryanB  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 3:50pm

    Well….I guess that plan of getting Iran to plant trees in Israel is out of the question.

    Report Post »  
  • mildot rider
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 3:26pm

    All I saw was a bunch of “chimps” dancing in the sand!

    Report Post »  
  • RougeFastFingers
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 3:03pm

    For ‘war’ you don’t need to have a single soldier step foot in Iran, simply destroy their air bases and ports and they are crippled economically and militarily. Their ‘retaliation’ would be of limited capability and could only do short term damage.

    Report Post » RougeFastFingers  
    • 702TruthSeeker
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 3:39pm

      the days of conventional wars are long gone. when it hits the fan, we will be paying the price for leaving the borders wide open for decades. it only took a few of them to kill thousands and crush our economy back in 01, remember? but who wants to talk about all that, lets focus on what’s really important.. you know, stuff like gay weddings and finding ways to get more free stuff from the government

      Report Post »  
    • VTPatriot44
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 10:09pm

      702 is likely correct. My guess is they are in the US already and will hit us internally. Europe is likely in a worse situation. Hope you’ve been preparing.

      Report Post »  
  • Bum thrower
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 3:01pm

    We will do our own ‘war games’ with the ‘Barney Frank Battalion’ (the Fightin’ 69th!…“Death from Behind”); They are Homophobes and will turn tail and run back to Terhan faster than you can ‘crack your barak’…

    Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:59pm

    So how will the self-annointed psychotic narccist in the White House go this time?

    One – he caves in before Iran and the world, allows the sanctions to collapse more than they already have due to permitting China and India access to Iranian oil exports.

    Two – he stages a symbolic attack on Iran and then allows our bases and navy assets and any troops in the area to be blasted to pieces; then he declares martial law and becomes a dictator in full.

    Three – he collapses mentally and needs to be commited to a psych ward for the rest of his days.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Steelhead
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:06pm

      you are mentally sick I hope you know. I just thought that you should tell you. You always play the victim of something Obama said or did. Is your life really that consumed by one man?

      Report Post » Steelhead  
    • txjb
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 5:40pm

      obama is our enemy and all of the democrat & republican party . Destruction is steam rolling in America , prepare and prepare some more !! food ,water,survival equipment of all kinds , and when you think you have enough go out and get some more .

      Report Post »  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:33pm

      I agree Dear Leader will do something rather than nothing…he will not conclude his presidency in a straight jacket but on the world stage as the first non-official first president of the world or secondly as its first world president. As for your detractors! They are still blind to what the TV has programmed their minds to believe. Eyes and Ears kitties!

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • KidCharlemagne
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:59pm

    “The Iranian military has launched a barrage of missiles at “mock enemy bases” as part of a major war games exercise aimed at dissuading any potential outsider attack,”
    =======================================================

    I always did wonder whatever happened to the missiles that Israel sold to Iran during Iran-Contra (LOL!):

    ————————————————————————————
    The Iran-Contra Affair

    According to the Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair issued in November 1987, the sale of U.S. arms to Iran through Israel began in the summer of 1985, after receiving the approval of President Reagan. The report shows that Israel’s involvement was stimulated by separate overtures in 1985 from Iranian arms merchant Manucher Ghorbanifar and National Security Council (NSC) consultant Michael Ledeen, the latter working for National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane. When Ledeen asked Prime Minister Shimon Peres for assistance, the Israeli leader agreed to sell weapons to Iran at America’s behest, providing the sale had high-level U.S. approval.
    http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/Iran_Contra_Affair.html

    Report Post »  
    • aChameleon
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:08pm

      Wasn’t that all done to secure the release of American hostages?

      Report Post » aChameleon  
    • KidCharlemagne
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:45pm

      aChameleon
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:08pm

      Wasn’t that all done to secure the release of American hostages?
      ======================================================

      Where do you think those missiles are today?….

      Report Post »  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:23pm

      We got those Hawk missiles back along time ago…where have you been?

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • hatchetjob
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:46pm

    Is this the same old saber rattling? Fuel prices should stay the same until something ACTUALLY happens. Yawn…

    Report Post » hatchetjob  
  • ALL4FREEDOM
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:42pm

    None of the implied oil blackmail would matter in the least if His Royal Majesty King Jimmy Carter II did not occupy the White House. Had we been graciously allowed to maximize production of domestic resources, we would now be in position to counteract any threat to Middle East production by simply raising our own. Prices would be lower and more stable as well.

    Report Post »  
  • bhosux
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:40pm

    Did you ever notice that Libs always wear hats and smell of an intense body oder of stench?

    Report Post » bhosux  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:29pm

    Strap yourselves in boys and girls, the Obamapolicy ride is about to begin. If you haven’t done so already you need to locate and map out the quickest route to your nearest fallout shelter. Lock and load.

    Report Post »  
  • Ted Zeppelin
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:29pm

    President Obysmal won’t attack Iran, they’re not just his friends, he’s more like them than an America.

    Report Post »  
  • jaelge
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:29pm

    Heres what we need to know: Stay out of other peoples business.
    Read some very interesting facts regarding George Washington (the Father of our Country).
    He was adamant about keeping America out of European and other coutry’s conflicts.
    As long as Washington ran our country we were never involved in anything that did not concern us.
    We could learn a lot from this man that eas loved so much by all in his life that he could’ve declared himself King Of The American Colonies but declined.
    And for all of you minority Washington detractors his last will and testement declared all of his slaves to be freed upon his death long before slavery had ever been a political or moral issue for **** like Lincoln!

    Report Post »  
    • libertyandresponsibility
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:40pm

      Maybe you should look up the quasi war, barbary coast, and the war of 1812. Then I’d say you can lectures about forigen policy of the Founders

      Report Post »  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:53pm

      pull up your pants

      your public schooling is showing

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • ZBP
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:56pm

      While I largely agree with your overall point missiles and nuclear weapons did not exist in his time. Furthermore, no close allies were facing “extinction.”

      Report Post »  
    • observer48
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 3:00pm

      Ummm, I hate to tell you this but slavery was a MAJOR issue during the debate over independence, in fact the Declaration of Independence was edited, after Jefferson wrote it, to remove any mention of slavery. That single issue could well have kept this nation from ever existing and was as explosive in 1776 as it was in 1858 and beyond. Slavery was very much an issue in Washington’s time.

      Report Post »  
    • TRILO
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 3:24pm

      @ libertyandjustice: Maybe you should go and read history before you make comments about others. First of all, the US navy was created to protect American commerce and merchants sailing across the seas. Pirates from the Barbary Coast were taking ships and crews hostage and demanding ransom. Thomas Jefferson refused to pay ransom. In 1802 in response to the continued actions of the Barbary pirates and countries, Congress passed “An act for the Protection of Commerce and seamen of the United States against the Tripolitan cruisers” which gave Jefferson the CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY to protect merchant ships and crews as he saw fit. (FYI same as Congress did for Iraq & Afghanistan)

      Second, the War of 1812 was an actual declared war of the Congress.

      If Iran or any other country were sending ships, troops, and supplies to the limits of our international shores, what response would we make? Just because we need the oil does not give us the right to just take it unless a Constitutional war is declared or authorized by Congress Why is that so difficult for so many people to understand?!!!

      So if you wish to use prior examples of USA use of military actions as justification for our current UNCONSTITUTIONAL involvement in foreign conflicts, whether direct or by proxy; please use examples of wars and actions that a President was NOT authorized to engage in as opposed to those where Congress actually did their job and the President acted within his Constitutional authority

      Report Post » TRILO  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:20pm

      The Code-Pink aligned fringe right Democrat Party talking pointers for Ron Paul assert that “certain wars” we engaged in were illegal show them and Ron Paul to be lacking in understanding of the Constitution. In Military culture and history, the Congressional authorizations for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan constitute a type of declaration of war known as a “contingent” or “conditional” declaration.” The Founding Fathers would have been very familiar with it as it is probably as ancient as warfare itself.

      A “contingent declaration of war” does not explicitly declare war since it is contingent upon events that have yet to transpire. Both Jefferson and Madison took the United States to war under similar Congressional authorizations during the First and Second Barbary Wars. They obviously had an understanding of what the Costitution meant and saw no reason to balk at sending U.S. forces into battle over the omission of the phrase “declaration of war.” If you want, you can read a Congressional Research Service report on the subject that called these declarations and several hundred others from our history authorizations to distinguish them from the formal declaration of war. In all cases, they are deemed to be legal uses of force under the Constitution. They all constitute a form of declaration of war thereby triggering implementation of the laws and customs of war between powers and on the battlefield. Also see “constructive and ultimatum” declara

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 4:41pm

      Con’t-

      …“ultimatum” declarations of war.

      In the “constructive declaration of war, hostilities have already commenced. In the “ultimatum” declaration that I previously discussed… contingent declaration is made, but with the inclusion of a time limit. For example “withdraw your forces within forty eight hours or else ……”

      That being written… while Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, the exact format for a declaration of war was not specified. That was very wise on the part of the Founders because there are several types of declaration of war as I mentioned. Most do not even include the phrase “declaration of war“ or ”declare war.” The left, Ron Paul and those that parrot both would like every war to start with a declaration by Congress (like Roosevelt’s “Date that will live in infamy” speech after Pearl Harbor seeking such a declaration). The problem with that view, and likely the reason why the Founders of this republic did not specify it, is simply that formal declarations of war also are often, but not always, made after hostilities had already commenced.

      In reality, formal war declarations are often more of a great collective war cry by the nation concerned calling for blood vengeance rather than a legal notice of the commencement of the state of war. Four of our five formally declared wars were declared after hostilities had already commenced at some level.

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:36pm

      Your down in the nitty gritty of how things used to be done…the world has moved way beyond that now….think outside the box but think in terms of social, econ, race warfare terms. Guess what, your not included in the New World Order!

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • observer48
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:28pm

    He that shall go unnamed has offered to reset relations with the government of Iran, since it is working so well with Russia, and insists that if the two nations can just talk, they (Iran) will see how enlightened he really is, renounce all that is bad, and fall to their knees and worship him as all people should………Sorry.
    Iran has taken the measure of our president and they are laughing in hs face. Iran may have a government of fanatics, but they are NOT stupid. BHO is a joke to them.

    Report Post »  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:23pm

    More photoshopping?

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:17pm

    DEar DEmocas in DEtroit, happy DEpendence day……

    Report Post »  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:14pm

    You better not mess with us Iran. Our dear leader will take care of you! That is, when he gets back from vacation this week. Oh, and he’ll be campaigning the next couple of weeks after. Oh, and I forgot about his annual August vacation. But after all those rounds of golf, he’ll take care of you!

    Report Post » KickinBack  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:13pm

    I guess the threat of “bombing them back to the stone age” won’t work either. They prefer that age.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • RLTW
    Posted on July 4, 2012 at 2:11pm

    I thought dear leader was going to talk with these lunatics.

    Report Post »  
    • heyjim55
      Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:47pm

      The Dear leader may still want to talk to these mullahs or maybe just bow to them and hope that changes their mind. However I think he will be to busy begging for money, polarizing the country and hopefully soon be explaining why he really isn’t the son of a sheep herder from Kenya but a red diaper baby son of a Communist by the name of Frank Marshal Davis.

      Report Post »  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love