Marco Rubio has called on China to prevent Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes.

His comments came after Iran’s state-run Press TV reported that parliament had approved a plan to close the Strait but added that the final decision lies with the Supreme National Security Council.

Any disruption to the supply of oil would have profound consequences for the economy. China in particular is the world’s largest buyer of Iranian oil and has a close relationship with Tehran.

    • spirinolas@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      America: Come on, you’re pulling that one out of nowhere. That can’t be the reason, we bomb people all the time!

      • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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        3 months ago

        America: … (pretending to make static sounds, muffling their voice like it’s a bad connection)… WHAT’S THAT??! … we’ve got a bad connection … did you say … BOMB THEM MORE? … (keeps pretending to make static sounds)

  • aseriesoftubes@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    I hope Iran waits until a couple months before the midterms to close the Strait. Nothing like sky-high oil prices to swing an election.

    • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
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      3 months ago

      Isn’t that more than a year away? If Netanyahu and his stooges have their way there won’t be an Iran by then.

  • Annoyed_🦀 @lemmy.zip
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    3 months ago

    US probably shouldn’t fuck with people who got the leverage on the economy, but alas, common sense isn’t always available when conservative is ruling.

    • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
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      3 months ago

      common sense isn’t always available when conservative is ruling.

      It wasn’t when liberals were ruling either (see: Gulf of Aden). This is an imperialism thing, not a conservative thing (though conservatives are worse about it).

    • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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      3 months ago

      The Chinese government sitting around the phone with the US on hold …“how long should we make them wait?”

      “Give them another hour, it’s already been two” (another round of belly busting laugher)

  • Anomalocaris@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    maybe stopping the oil addiction was not only for the environment, but a matter of national defense.

      • Anomalocaris@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        There’s no reason for this oil dependency,

        Right wing nationalists push for energy independence Environmentalists push for not destroying the place we live Healt advocates push for better air quality …

        but Oil shareholders like money so fuck everyone else.

    • NABDad@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Imagine for a moment if the fortune spent on the failed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was instead invested in reducing our dependence on oil.

      • Anomalocaris@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        sounds horrible, imagine trillions going to improving the country and helping people instead of being funneled into the pocket of the wealthiest people in the country.

        what a nightmare…

  • eddanja@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    It’s a good thing they kept coal alive. Can’t wait for my coal driven Ford soccer mom car to release. Little Jimmy and little Linda in the back seat might have to get their hands dirty throwing fistfuls of coal in the furnace, but it will be good for them. Builds character!

    • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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      3 months ago

      Make … (cough, cough, cough) … America … (cough, HACK, ACK) …Great … (cough, hack, wheeze, cough, hack)… Again

  • melsaskca@lemmy.ca
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    3 months ago

    america helped israel so now China has to help america. Donald Trump better say Thank you.

  • ramble81@lemmy.zip
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    3 months ago

    In the meantime, China is going all in on EVs thus reducing their dependence on oil…. Gee, wonder what leverage that gives them.

    • Buelldozer@lemmy.today
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      3 months ago

      China imports 1.3 to 1.8 million barrels of oil per day from Iran, roughly 16% of its total. It’s not just oil either, China is a heavy importer of other Iranian petrochemicals.

      China’s EVs give them very little leverage at this point.

  • Buelldozer@lemmy.today
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    3 months ago

    Reading these comments seriously makes me wonder how many of y’all read the article. The US doesn’t need Iranian oil but China DOES.

    A dwindling supply of oil through the Strait and rising oil prices damages China and buoys the United States. If China doesn’t want to put any effort into keeping the Strait open it’s going to hurt them far more than it will hurt anyone else.