Olmert Propose Naval Blockade of Iran

If only Iran were an island. I don't know how much of an impact this would have on Iran's ambition to obtain nuclear weapons. Iran get a lot of help from the Russians. Reuters

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert proposed in talks with a U.S. Congressional leader that a naval blockade be imposed on Iran to try to curb its nuclear program, an Israeli newspaper said on Wednesday.

The Haaretz daily quoted Olmert as telling Nancy Pelosi that "the present economic sanctions have exhausted themselves" and the international community needed to take more drastic steps to stop Iran's efforts to obtain nuclear weapons.

A spokesman for Olmert declined to comment on the Israeli leader's talks on Monday with Pelosi, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, in Jerusalem.

"It was a confidential discussion," said the spokesman, Mark Regev.

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The prime minister's suggestions, Haaretz said, included a naval blockade of Iran using U.S. warships to limit the movement of Iranian merchant vessels.

Olmert also said, according to the report, that international restrictions should be placed on Iranian aircraft, business executives and senior officials.

"Iranian business people who would not be able to land anywhere in the world would pressure the regime," Haaretz quoted Olmert as saying.

On her return to Washington, Pelosi said she and the congressional delegation she led to Israel had discussed with its leaders "the threat posed by Iran".

Iran has said it will not cease uranium enrichment, which it says is for generating electricity only. Israel, widely believed to have atomic weapons, has called the Iranian nuclear program an existential threat.