Iran’s army chief threatens to block Hormuz if US harms oil sales

The US will pay “a heavy price” if the US sanctions going into force on Nov. 4, reduce Iran’s oil exports, the Iranian military’s chief of staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri warned Thursday, Talking to naval commanders of the Revolutionary Guards, he threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which a third of the world’s oil supplies passes. On Tuesday, US Defense Secretary James Mattis warned “Iran has been put on notice” as a result of its regional activities and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz. Gen. Bagheri responded: “The movements of US forces in the Persian Gulf are monitored closely and if any move is made by the US forces, contrary to the international law, their act will be prevented harshly.”