Moscow, Dec 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Iran's first vice-president has warned that no oil will be permitted to pass through the crucial Strait of Hormuz if the West imposes sanctions on the country's oil exports.
"If sanctions are adopted against Iranian oil, not a drop of oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz," Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted Mohammad Reza Rahimi as saying Tuesday.
"We have no desire for hostilities or violence... but the West doesn't want to go back on its plan" to impose sanctions, he said.
"The enemies will only drop their plots when we put them back in their place," he added.
About one-third of the world's oil tankers passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz will increase oil prices. Therefore, the world's major powers will have no option but to intervene in the case to settle it, Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta commented Tuesday.
Iran is currently carrying out naval exercises in international waters to the east of the strait.