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When the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on June 9
authorizing a fourth round of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran
for its controversial nuclear program, the risk of conflict in the Persian Gulf
also escalated considerably.

One of the potential points of tension is the resolution's explicit call for
cargo inspection. Iran has warned vehemently against such a move. According to
Brigadier Ali Fadavi, Iran's military forces, especially the Islamic
Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy (IRGCN), maintain a "special and suitable
response to the inspection of Iranian vessels".

However, a major military move to challenge this particular regime of sanctions
in the Persian Gulf would probably involve an attempt to close off the Strait
of Hormuz, a strategic waterway between <a href='//asianmedia.com/GAAN/www/delivery/ck.php?n=a53e495a&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'>
<img src='//asianmedia.com/GAAN/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=36&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&amp;n=a53e495a' border='0' alIran and Oman through which nearly 40% of crude oil supplies pass, including
88% of Saudi Arabian and 98% of Iraqi oil exports.

Since 2008, Tehran ... >>>