Iran’s Nuclear Activities & Gas Price

Mehran Riazaty: Iran Analyst

Today, Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh, on the state television, said that if the interests of the country come under attack, we will use all our resources and oil is one such option. He added that if Iran is put under an oil embargo, which is unwise and impossible, the price of oil will reach more than $100.

Analyst Comment: on March 19, 05, the head of energy commission in Iran’s Parliament, Kamal Danesshyar, said that the real price of oil is $100 a barrel and it has not yet reached its real price. He added “The value of oil is more than its current price and the United States because of stopping the progress of peaceful nuclear programs is the main reason for the lack of oil supplies in the world.”

On April 4, 05, Aftab News Agency reported that Ali Akbar Velayati, former Iran’s Foreign Minister for about 16 years, and current advisor in International Affairs to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameni, in an article called, Fourth Strategy, said “We have predicted that Iran will became first power of the region in next few years.” He added that “All of Iran’s interests are located in the Middle East.” READ MORE

In the pass three years, I have constantly warned the U.S. policy makers that the Iranian authorities will use every means to pursue their goals in the region. The oil is not the only Iran’s resource. Iran’s military forces could close the Strait of Hormuz in Persian Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz is the only sea route where oil from Iran, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, as well as most United Arab Emirates can be transported. The Iranian officials could also organize Islamic militant groups against the U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. On May 18, 06, Velayati said that at this time our friends are in charge of government in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Hezbollah of Lebanon is another Iran’s source in the region. On September 19, 2003, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjan, Iran’s Chairman of Expediency Council, said that we really like Hezbollah in Lebanon and they are one of our good friends.

Mehran Riazaty: a former Iran analyst for the Central Command of the Coalition Forces in Baghdad.