A senior Iranian military officer says Iran's armed forces have contingency plans for blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Major General Hassan Firouzabadi also says any decision to take action is up to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran stressed the country is able to fully close the Strait. The US has been saying it will never allow this to happen and that the critical waterway for shipping crude oil must stay open. Western powers have recently tightened sanctions on Tehran.

A European Union embargo on oil came effect on July 1. The goal is to force Iran to give up uranium enrichment.

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