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U.S. Fifth Fleet says won't allow disruption in Hormuz

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DUBAI | Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:32am EST

DUBAI (Reuters) - The U.S. Fifth Fleet said on Wednesday it will not allow any disruption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran threatened to stop ships moving through the strategic oil route.

"The free flow of goods and services through the Strait of Hormuz is vital to regional and global prosperity," a spokesperson for the Bahrain-based fleet said in a written response to queries from Reuters about the possibility of Iran trying to close the waterway.

"Anyone who threatens to disrupt freedom of navigation in an international strait is clearly outside the community of nations; any disruption will not be tolerated."

Asked whether it was taking specific measures in response to the threat to close the Strait, the fleet said it "maintains a robust presence in the region to deter or counter destabilizing activities," without providing further detail.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Andrew Hammond; Writing by Joseph Logan; Editing by Louise Ireland)

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Comments (6)
Intriped wrote:
A ploy by the Iranians to allow them to go long on oil. Will not work.

Dec 28, 2011 11:20am EST  --  Report as abuse
whitner wrote:
Go navy…..Kick a## !

Dec 28, 2011 2:23pm EST  --  Report as abuse
Yo3323 wrote:
Really? Not even one word talking about how this is the Iranian response to a potential worldwide embargo of Iranian oil? An act that would cripple their entire economy and kill millions from starvation alone?

Dec 28, 2011 4:03pm EST  --  Report as abuse
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