I think us shareholders can add another maybe factor to the overall NZO equation.
There seems to be some uncover stuff happening between Iran and the West....again.
Prospects of war is now hinted at, yet again, mainly from the press taking advantage of frustrated politicians putting their feet in their mouths ......so the threats are coming thick and fast at the moment. This will help underpin the oil price which is in unchartered waters at the moment with another record high up nearly $2 to $us 83.85.
The press raising (yet again) the suggestion that Iran may threaten to mine the Gulf and block the Strait, got an attack back from Iran
Quote..
Earlier, when asked if Iran would block the Hormuz Strait, the world's most important waterway for oil shipments, if attacked, Government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham dismissed it as "far-fetched" that anybody would take "this foolish option". NZHerald
So how much of this is press puffery? or is there some skulduggery going on from all sides.
From a Western perspective It seems Oil is now a much more precious commodity and must be shared by all in the world ...or else. They know that oil would be severely interrupted if a strike on Iran over their nuclear non-compliance goes ahead and trying to find alternative solutions seems frustratingly not forthcoming as is their bad pressing Iran and other unhanded stuff from all sides (including Iran) that us mere mortals don't hear about.
However to add balance.....it is not new to hear about Iran closing the Hormuz Strait
An article dated 1 March 2006 makes good reading as to what could happen if Iran and the West have a fall out.
Also
Bloomberg on May 6 2006 their article shows that Iran's Oil threat strategy could be very effective against a possible Western Strike on Iran.
Is this time any different from the past actions? or is it more serious this time?
Either way...surely it has to be a positive factor for NZO