Salehi did not name the aircraft carrier or give details of the action Iran might take if it returned. However, last week a spokeswoman for the U.S. 5th Fleet said the USS John C. Stennis had left the Gulf.
Iran completed 10 days of naval exercises in the Gulf on Monday, and said during the drills that if foreign powers imposed sanctions on its crude exports it could shut the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40 percent of the world's traded oil is shipped.
The U.S. Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahrain, said it would not allow shipping to be disrupted in the strait.
Iran fires missiles
Iran said on Monday it had successfully test-fired two long-range missiles during its naval drill, flexing its military muscle in the face of mounting Western pressure over its controversial nuclear program.
Iran also said it had no intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz but had carried out "mock" exercises on shutting the strategic waterway.

Rookie wrote:This time it smells different. My concern is this one could escalate into a confrontation.

Iran isn't stupid...It's Navy is a few spreedboats...Most, it will have an effect on oil prices if it escalates...But the U.S. has warned them over the weekend not to try anything...20% of the world's oil passes through the strait of Harmuz...The world would act...

nykshaknbake wrote:Iran isn't stupid but it's leader views himself as the return of Saladin. Make no mistake, they think they have a divine mandate to to unite the Arab nations; most likely via conquest. North Korea at least is somewhat predictable in that they will do what they need to hold onto power and keep the military fed. Not so these guys.

holfresh wrote:

Rookie wrote:This time it smells different. My concern is this one could escalate into a confrontation.

Iran isn't stupid...It's Navy is a few spreedboats...Most, it will have an effect on oil prices if it escalates...But the U.S. has warned them over the weekend not to try anything...20% of the world's oil passes through the strait of Harmuz...The world would act...

Iran is not Arab, it's Persian...

holfresh wrote:

nykshaknbake wrote:Iran isn't stupid but it's leader views himself as the return of Saladin. Make no mistake, they think they have a divine mandate to to unite the Arab nations; most likely via conquest. North Korea at least is somewhat predictable in that they will do what they need to hold onto power and keep the military fed. Not so these guys.

holfresh wrote:

Rookie wrote:This time it smells different. My concern is this one could escalate into a confrontation.

Iran isn't stupid...It's Navy is a few spreedboats...Most, it will have an effect on oil prices if it escalates...But the U.S. has warned them over the weekend not to try anything...20% of the world's oil passes through the strait of Harmuz...The world would act...

Iran is not Arab, it's Persian...

True enough. Basically the same idea though. A single islamic caliphate.

SupremeCommander wrote:

nykshaknbake wrote:

holfresh wrote:

nykshaknbake wrote:Iran isn't stupid but it's leader views himself as the return of Saladin. Make no mistake, they think they have a divine mandate to to unite the Arab nations; most likely via conquest. North Korea at least is somewhat predictable in that they will do what they need to hold onto power and keep the military fed. Not so these guys.

holfresh wrote:

Rookie wrote:This time it smells different. My concern is this one could escalate into a confrontation.

Iran isn't stupid...It's Navy is a few spreedboats...Most, it will have an effect on oil prices if it escalates...But the U.S. has warned them over the weekend not to try anything...20% of the world's oil passes through the strait of Harmuz...The world would act...

Iran is not Arab, it's Persian...

True enough. Basically the same idea though. A single islamic caliphate.

It would be wise to rethink that statement

SupremeCommander wrote:

nykshaknbake wrote:Why is that?

SupremeCommander wrote:

nykshaknbake wrote:

holfresh wrote:

nykshaknbake wrote:Iran isn't stupid but it's leader views himself as the return of Saladin. Make no mistake, they think they have a divine mandate to to unite the Arab nations; most likely via conquest. North Korea at least is somewhat predictable in that they will do what they need to hold onto power and keep the military fed. Not so these guys.

holfresh wrote:

Rookie wrote:This time it smells different. My concern is this one could escalate into a confrontation.

Iran isn't stupid...It's Navy is a few spreedboats...Most, it will have an effect on oil prices if it escalates...But the U.S. has warned them over the weekend not to try anything...20% of the world's oil passes through the strait of Harmuz...The world would act...

Iran is not Arab, it's Persian...

True enough. Basically the same idea though. A single islamic caliphate.

It would be wise to rethink that statement

While I understand that you were saying that the religion and the government "is basically the same idea though", there are still cultural differences and Iran has contentious realtions with, say, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Also, Muslim does not imply Arab.

I said to "rethink that statement" because I know there was no malintent intended. I guess my point was to be careful and don't lump it all together.

I'm in my third year living in the Arab world and I think the trick to understanding the region is to digest and appreciate as many details as possible.

So, I pretty much know jack ****, but it makes infinitely more sense than it did before.

Sorry for the ramble

Oh absolutely. Not lumping the Arab countries with Iran. My opinion comes from talking to some Saudi and Syrian friends. Two other countries that don't like each other. But the point is that Iran's leadership seeks to dominate the region and believes it has a divine mandate. Definitely not saying all the countries or people are the same in the ME.