Iran guards threaten to block Strait of Hormuz after Rouhani warning

Qassem Soleimani backs Iranian president's threats to target Arabian Gulf oil exports in retaliation to US sanctions

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani has promised retaliation to any US sanctions. Reuters

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards vowed to attack oil exports from the region with Qassem Soleimani, the force commander, issuing a letter backing President Hassan Rouhani's threat of retaliation against US sanctions.

The Iranian leader issued the stark warning that Tehran would not be alone in seeing its oil sales drop should the US force the shutdown, as he toured Europe this week.

"I kiss your [Rouhani's] hand for expressing such wise and timely comments, and I am at your service to implement any policy that serves the Islamic Republic," said Soleimani, commander of foreign operations for the IRGC.

_____________

Read more

Iranian diplomat at centre of bomb plot inquiry to lose immunity

Iran diplomat among six held over plot to bomb opposition group

_____________

The exchange prompted the US military to issue reassurances that the Gulf trade routes would be defended from any attack or Iranian threat.

Capt Bill Urban, a spokesman for the US military's Central Command, said the US stood "ready to ensure the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce wherever international law allows".

The Iranian leader travelled to Europe in an effort to secure support for its international trade that would shield its economy in the aftermath of the US decision to withdraw from the 2015 agreement.

US pressure on Iran forced the Japanese leader to cancel a planned visit to the country later this month. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has abandoned plans for what would have been the first visit by a Japanese leader in 40 years during his tour through the Middle East that starts on July 11.

Mr Rouhani met Austrian leaders on Wednesday after a visit to Switzerland that failed to secure hoped-for commercial contracts, including a deal to buy subway carriages for Tehran's metro.

The visit to Vienna went ahead despite a diplomatic dispute over the arrest of an Iranian diplomat who is the suspected mastermind of a plot to bomb a Paris rally.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz demanded "full clarification" from Mr Rouhani of the role of the Vienna-based Iranian diplomat in the plot to bomb an Iranian opposition rally in Europe.

Austrian officials announced they would revoke the legal immunity of Vienna-based diplomat Assadollah Assadi on Tuesday.

Mr Assadi was detained on Sunday near German city Aschaffenburg on a European arrest warrant after an Iranian couple were stopped in Belgium and authorities reported finding powerful explosives in their car.

_____________

Read more

US officials visiting Gulf allies to co-ordinate Iran sanctions

_____________

A large percentage of Iran's oil revenues and banking ties will be at stake if neither can be protected by the EU.

Mr Rouhani would be left with little incentive to remain in the deal and in compliance with its terms and conditions.

Yet proposals to ensure European finance to bypass American sanctions have been met with scepticism by EU members states faced with threats to exports worth more than US$435 billion (Dh1.6 trillion) to the US.

Iran is the bloc's 66th biggest trading partner, with less than $24 billion.