The United States has used a secret channel to warn Iran’s leaders against closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, saying that doing so would provoke a US response, the New York Times reported.
Iran has threatened to close the narrow and strategic waterway — a chokepoint for one fifth of the world’s traded oil — in the event of a military strike or the severe tightening of international sanctions.
The New York Times, citing unnamed US officials, said late Thursday that the White House has communicated to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that closing the strait would be a “red line” and provoke a response.
The officials did not provide further details about the covert communication channel, except to say that it was separate from the Swiss government, through which the United States occasionally relays messages to Iran’s leaders.
The United States and its allies have stepped up increasingly harsh sanctions on Iran over its nuclear enrichment program, which they have charged is part of a secret drive to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran has insisted its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and vowed to retaliate against any strike on its facilities.
