>>> developing now, the pentagon firing back against iran 's threat to choke off a vital passage, it carries one sixth of the world's oil. iranian officials say they will close the strait of hormuz if the west follows through on promised harsh sanctions on its oil shipments. the pentagon says any disruption along the straight will not be tolerated. the proposed sanctions are in response to iran 's refusal to stop its suspected nuclear program. iran has the nafrnal power to block the strait. there is concern over a possible military conflict with u.s. forces if iran tries to make good on those threats. we're joined now by the deputy editor for "time" magazine. how serious should we be taking these threats at this point?
>> i think we should take our cues from the oil markets. as soon as iran made this announcement, oil prices shot up by $10 a barrel. is the oil experts are making the calculations that this is a bluff. they're doing the right thing by making it clear that this will not be tolerated. but the best guess is that this is the iranian's rattling --
>> bluster?
>> exactly.
>> if iran does follow through on the threats, what could that potentially mean for the u.s. naval forces that are based right there?
>> the u.s. has sizable ?forces, as you pointed out. the iranian navy is not, in military terms any match for any western navy, least of all the u.s. navy . but it is -- any kind of conflict, even if it's small skirmish on that straight would send oil prices soaring, because something like 40% of all the oil that's moved by tankers comes flew that straight. and eight or nine major oil producers moved anywhere oil through there. it is a choke point. it is a place where even a little bit of ripples in the water can have major seismic effects down the line. but the best guess is, that's not how it's going to play.
>> how do you think it's going to play out?
>> i think the iranians have made their bluff. the u.s. has called it. the saudis have said they will pump out more oil to compensate for any more choking oil. i think a week from now, we're talking about something else in that part of the world.
>> let's talk about another part of that. let's talk about syria for a moment. at least six people killed in violent clashes between the government and anti-government forces there. any indication at this point that syria 's president is going to step down at some point soon?
>> no, not at all. he seems to be determined to fight it out. and although the arab league has now sent monitors into syria , to try to get firsthand information of what's going on, the foreign media is not allowed. all we're seeing is youtube videos and cell phone pictures that have been posted online. those monitors are going to get a sense of what's going on in the country. the fact that his forces continue to kill people while the monitors are% the country. that says that he's not about to be backing down, he wants to go all the way.
>> bobby ghosh, thank you, sir. happy new year.
>> and to you.
Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/newsnation/45807268/
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