Vice-Admiral Kevin J Cosgriff, commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, said that while the likelihood of that happening is low, concerns about Iran consume the region - and his day.
"I wake up thinking about Iran, I go to bed thinking about Iran," Cosgriff told reporters on the eve of a regional conference here where Iran will be a key focus.
Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital commercial waterway, are the greatest concern for Naval security in the region, a senior US Naval officer said yesterday.
Vice-Admiral Kevin J Cosgriff, commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, said that while the likelihood of that happening is low, concerns about Iran consume the region - and his day.
"I wake up thinking about Iran, I go to bed thinking about Iran," Cosgriff told reporters on the eve of a regional conference here where Iran will be a key focus.
He added, "I know of no threat that would cause them to want to close ... the Strait of Hormuz. To me it's coercive, it's intended to intimidate not only the regional nations - "look at us we can damage your prosperity'- but it's intended to intimidate the global market. I just don't think that's responsible behaviour."
His comments came a day before a regional security conference. Defence Secretary Robert Gates will make the keynote speech this morning to foreign delegates and other national security officials from Gulf nations and other major powers.
Gates has been meeting with his military commanders here, and will participate in the conference, sponsored by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The meeting will focus on security issue in the region, but Iran is likely to dominate much of the discussions.
* US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice vowed yesterday to pursue UN sanctions against Iran and keep pressure on the Islamic republic to suspend uranium enrichment.
