Hammond, the Defence Secretary of UK, gave a lecture at Washington on the policy that EU would take military measure against the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in case that Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz in response to additional punishment on forbidding importation of crude oil produced in Iran, about which EU got agreement basically. He hold counsel with Panetta, United States Secretary of Defense, about ensuring the safety around the strait. Both of the countries aims at cooprating each other and strengthen pressure on Iranian government to stop nuclear development.
Hammond expressed the standpoint of UK to resist the ocean closure militarily by saying "Suspension of tranporting oil will threaten economic development not only around the area but also around the world." and warned "Any attempt to close down the strait will be illegal and won't succeed."
In addition to it, Hammond stated "It is our interest to ensure the freedom to sail through the strait."
. And he offered cooperation of other countries on the assumption that navies of 25 countries including UK and US can help ensuring the traffic there. The navies are based on Bahrain and are sent by US and UK to take measures against terrorism and pirates.
Last year, US, always deploys at least an aircraft carrier near the Persian Gulf, warned "Unacceptable" on the issue of closing down the strait by Iran. While France also begged Iran to obey the freedom of sailing through the strait, France insisted on prohibiting importation of crude oil from Iran as well as other countries.
The strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea is the important point of transporting oil and is surrounded by oil-producing countries. According to U.S.Department of Energy, 1.7 million barrels passes through the strait. The quantity occupys 40% of oil transport around the world.
Cited from http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120106-00000089-san-int (Yahoo News, Sankei Shimbun)
If the closure is implemented, Japan confronts serious crisis. While nuclear power plants in Japan are forced to suspend operation, dependence on thermal power stations is gradually increasing. Now that saving electricity won't compensate for the reduction of electricity caused by lack of oil.
So, Japan should have as many kinds of energy resources as possible. As a part of it, I hope nuclear power plants all over Japan restart operation as what it was before March 11, 2011.
