Rasmussen: NATO Not Planning Military Attack on Iran

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that the alliance is not planning a military operation against Iran, Vesti.ru reported January 19.

“It is extremely important that energy resources continue to be delivered through the Strait of Hormuz artery. The Iranian authorities are obliged to act as members of the international community, according to international agreements. But, I underline, NATO is not planning a military intervention,” Rasmussen said.

It was reported earlier that the U.S. President Barack Obama called on Tehran to hold direct talks on a possible blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and warned of its consequences. The position of the White House was stated in Obama’s letter addressed to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to ITAR-TASS.

According to the agency, Iranian parliamentary deputy Ali Motahari said later that “the first part of the letter contains threats and the second – an invitation to a dialogue.”

A representative of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Ramin Mehmanparast said that the initiative of the White House is being considered.

Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz in response to the expected embargo on Iranian oil imposed by the EU. The sanctions may be approved as early as January 23 at the EU foreign ministers’ meeting.