Iran Thread

[Elrina]

The only problem with that is Iran isn't the USA, and doesn't have the power to stand against the USA in an outright war.

I'm quite sure that a war with Iran will result in a variety of bad side effects in the US, but I can't imagine they could stop the US military from moving in, crippling their acting government and tearing up their shit. The support of the people doesn't mean much if a war means invasion, being occupied, and the current regime being removed/wiped out.

I don't know, it just doesn't seem to make very much sense. It just sounds like an excuse to instigate shit with them.

[Mazmaz]

Donald Rumsfeld, is that you?

I don't understand what that means. Do you agree or disagree?

The only problem with that is Iran isn't the USA, and doesn't have the power to stand against the USA in an outright war.

I'm quite sure that a war with Iran will result in a variety of bad side effects in the US, but I can't imagine they could stop the US military from moving in, crippling their acting government and tearing up their shit. The support of the people doesn't mean much if a war means invasion, being occupied, and the current regime being removed/wiped out.

I don't know, it just doesn't seem to make very much sense. It just sounds like an excuse to instigate shit with them.

Ah I see. I wasn't clear enough. US won't put ground troops in Iran, it won't happen. Pretty much no one will stand for it. What they WILL do is bomb all the oil sector of the country, rendering 80% of the economy totaled.

[Cail]

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran threatened on Tuesday to take action if the U.S. Navy moves an aircraft carrier into the Gulf, Tehran's most aggressive statement yet after weeks of saber-rattling as new U.S. and EU financial sanctions take a toll on its economy.

The prospect of sanctions targeting the oil sector in a serious way for the first time has hit Iran's rial currency, which reached a record low on Tuesday and has fallen by 40 percent against the dollar in the past month.

Queues formed at Tehran banks and some currency exchange offices shut their doors as Iranians scrambled to buy dollars to protect their savings. On world markets, oil prices soared.

Army chief Ataollah Salehi said the United States had moved an aircraft carrier out of the Gulf because of Iran's naval exercises, and Iran would take action if the ship returned.

"Iran will not repeat its warning...the enemy's carrier has been moved to the Sea of Oman because of our drill. I recommend and emphasize to the American carrier not to return to the Persian Gulf," he said.

"I advise, recommend and warn them over the return of this carrier to the Persian Gulf because we are not in the habit of warning more than once."

The U.S. military brushed off the threat: "The deployment of U.S. military assets in the Persian Gulf region will continue as it has for decades," said spokesman Commander Bill Speaks.

"The U.S. Navy operates under international maritime conventions to maintain a constant state of high vigilance in order to ensure the continued, safe flow of maritime traffic in waterways critical to global commerce."

The aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis leads a U.S. Navy task force in the region. It is now outside the Gulf in the Arabian Sea, providing air support for the war in Afghanistan, said Lieutenant Rebecca Rebarich, spokeswoman for the 5th Fleet.

The carrier left the Gulf on December 27 on a planned routine transit through the Strait of Hormuz, she said.

Forty percent of the world's traded oil flows through that narrow straight -- which Iran threatened last month to shut if sanctions halted its oil exports.

Brent crude futures were up more than $4 in late Tuesday afternoon trade in London, pushing above $111 a barrel.

Tehran's latest threat comes at a time when sanctions are having an impact on its economy, and the country faces political uncertainty with an election in March, its first since a 2009 vote that triggered countrywide demonstrations.

The West has imposed the increasingly tight sanctions over Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran says is strictly peaceful but Western countries believe aims to build an atomic bomb.

After years of measures that had little impact, the new sanctions are the first that could have a serious effect on Iran's oil trade, 60 percent of its economy.

Sanctions signed into law by U.S. President Barack Obama on New Year's Eve would cut financial institutions that work with Iran's central bank off from the U.S. financial system, blocking the main path for Iran to receive payments for its crude.

The EU is expected to impose new sanctions by the end of this month, possibly including a ban on oil imports and a freeze of central bank assets.

Even Iran's top trading partner China -- which has refused to back new global sanctions against Iran -- is demanding discounts to buy Iranian oil as Tehran's options narrow. Beijing has cut its imports of Iranian crude by more than half for January.

.

[Mazmaz]

They're really quite desperate. If it gets to the March election in the same condition that the country is in now, the government would probably topple. They have to do something to prevent that by March.

[Correction]

I don't understand what that means. Do you agree or disagree?

I think it's fucking stupid to assume Iran wants a war with the United States. You've pulled that conclusion completely out of your ass.

[Mazmaz]

Yes cause I'm not from Iran and that's not exactly what's being talked about in intellectual circles within Iran itself.

Right outta my ass.

[Correction]

Yeah, Iranians who aren't part of the government of Iran always have the most unbiased view of its intent.

[Mazmaz]

ITT Iran dictatorship are really just good guys we promise.

You playing devil's advocate here? Or you seriously think they care about their people?
Sure, I didn't present any evidence. If there was evidence then it'd be widespread news stories. I presented credible opinions.

[Correction]

ITT Iran dictatorship are really just good guys we promise.

You playing devil's advocate here? Or you seriously think they care about their people?
Sure, I didn't present any evidence. If there was evidence then it'd be widespread news stories. I presented credible opinions.

I'm saying people with a vested interest in Iranian regime change (the aforementioned expats and intelligentsia) can't be trusted to speak for the government. The Iranian government is a lot of bad things, but they aren't delusional idiots and aren't unaware of the catastrophic outcome of provoking a war with the West.

[archibaldcrane]

Even Iran's top trading partner China -- which has refused to back new global sanctions against Iran -- is demanding discounts to buy Iranian oil as Tehran's options narrow. Beijing has cut its imports of Iranian crude by more than half for January.

China's so baller. Pinch the fuck out of them to take advantage of their marginalized market. I love it.

[Kuya]

China doesn't miss an opportunity.

[Salodin]

China doesn't miss an opportunity.

Which is why they're going to win.

[djzombie]

Which is why they've won.

fixed

[Kerberoz]

For another decade or so, then the 1-child generation will have fun supporting the dozen-children generation.

[djzombie]

incoming drone attacks on iran, china backs iran, ww3, yadda yadaa...

[Andalusian girls]

China will not fight over Iran

[Xno Kappa]

Why would China back Iran and get involved?

[Andalusian girls]

they won't

they'll allow us to drain ourselves in imperial overstretch attempting to police the world as they develop an unassailable economic base and only then seek geopolitical supremacy

as of now they do not even seek to force the issue on Taiwan which is their foremost international priority

[Xno Kappa]

Yeah that's what I figured lol.

[archibaldcrane]

they develop an unassailable economic base

For another decade or so, then the 1-child generation will have fun supporting the dozen-children generation.

^

China's going to be fucked.