Egyptian politician praises Iran's powerful control over Strait of Hormoz

A top political figure and a possible candidate in the upcoming presidential election in Egypt lauded Iran's power, and said the Iranian Navy's current wargames in the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf proved that Iran is powerful enough to exercise full control over the strategic Strait of Hormoz. "Iran is a powerful country and has many winning aces in its hands; were it a weak and feeble country, the colonialist and imperialist powers would have attacked it already," Abdullah al-Ash'al told FNA in Cairo on Monday. "I believe that these wargames of Iran have a clear message for Israel and the US, while helping the country test and evaluate its power in the region as well," he added. He further reiterated that Israel has always been fearful of Iran's leader and military power, and added, "Iran's wargames show its power and capability of exercising its sovereignty and control over strategic points of the world like the Strait of Hormoz." His remarks came as Iran has been conducting a series of massive wargames in the Sea of Oman, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean in the last 10 days. During the drills, the Iranian Navy forces and warships practiced closing the strategic waterway. An estimated 40 percent of the world's oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormoz. Iran has warned that in case of a military threat by the US or Israel or in case its oil exports are sanctions, it would close the world energy lifeline.