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Iran's supreme leader threatens world oil supply

The implied threat was dismissed by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who said Iran was too dependent on oil revenues to disrupt the flow of crude.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 5, 2006

The implied threat was dismissed by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who said Iran was too dependent on oil revenues to disrupt the flow of crude. She also put Iran on notice that the incentives offered by the West to suspend its nuclear program are not open-ended, although she declined to say Tehran had a firm deadline to respond.

"I'm not one for timelines and specific schedules, but I think it's fair to say that we really do have to have this settled over a matter of weeks, not months," she said on Fox News Sunday.

Western nations fear Iran is using what it calls a peaceful civilian nuclear program as a cover to build atomic weapons. After months of threats and counterthreats, Washington said last week it was prepared to join talks with Iran on the issue if it stopped enriching uranium.

In conjunction with the U.S. offer, the five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany drew up a fresh economic incentive package for Iran last week but made it conditional on an end to enrichment. Iran could face sanctions if it declines the package.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Iranians would study the offer carefully but rejected preconditions.

Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters, made his comments on state radio.

"If you make any mistake (punish or attack Iran), definitely shipment of energy from this region will be seriously jeopardized," Khamenei said, addressing Western nations.

"We have not threatened any neighbor," he said, calling the accusation that Iran is seeking an atom bomb "a sheer lie."

However, Ahmadinejad repeatedly has questioned Israel's right to exist and said in October that the Jewish state should be "wiped off the map." Israel is believed to possess the world's sixth-largest nuclear arsenal.

Contrary to Khamenei's remarks, other Iranian officials have repeatedly ruled out using oil as a weapon. Iran is the world's fourth-largest oil exporter and has the second-largest reserves in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Iranian political analyst Saeed Leilaz said Khamenei's remarks were more important for what he did not say.

"He didn't close the door for dialogue or understanding with the U.S.," Leilaz said. "Khamenei even didn't close the door for possibility of Iran suspending uranium enrichment. Iran is after maximum concessions from America."

Rajabali Mazrouei, a former reformist lawmaker and political analyst, said, "Khamenei's comments should be assessed as part of the usual harsh exchange of rhetoric between Iran and the United States."

Information from the Washington Post was used in this report.

[Last modified June 5, 2006, 05:11:09]