WarSclerotic

Carl Levin, a Democratic senator from Michigan and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on the Senate on Friday to consider a proposal to place a naval blockade around Iran to prevent it from exporting crude oil, taking a significantly more aggressive tact to ending the Iranian nuclear crisis than U.S. President Barack Obama, who has called for diplomatic and economic pressure.

In an interview with C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” program, Levin said the move would preclude a full military operation against Iran, and could compel Iran to reconsider its nuclear progress. According to the senator, who is Jewish, such an act would have to be accompanied by a plan for alternative supplies of crude oil, to prevent the inevitable and sharp global increase in the price of oil.

Iran is OPEC’s second-largest oil producer and the world’s third-largest petroleum exporter.

Asked about measures such as no-fly zones in Iran, Levin said, “That’s, I think, one option that needs to be considered. Such moves could be very effective. I think (these are) options that whoever is willing to participate should explore, including Israel and including the United States.”

Levin, whose committee carries an oversight role for the U.S. Defense Department, expressed hope that sanctions against Iran – including an EU decision to stop importing crude oil from Iran beginning July 1 – will cause the Iranian regime to abort its nuclear program. “Not because it doesn’t want a nuke – I think it does – but because the price that it’s going to have to pay” in terms of isolation would be too high, Levin said.

The senator pointed out that the president must obtain the approval of Congress for any military action he wants to take against Iran, although, he said, presidents from both parties had maintained they were not bound to do so as commanders in chief of U.S. armed forces.

Concerning an Israeli strike on Iran, Levin said he would not be surprised if Israel took military action against Iran within two months. If Iran continues its refusal to terminate its nuclear program, Levin said, a military strike is a “reasonable possibility.”

According to Levin, Israel’s anti-missile defense systems — manufactured with U.S. aid — have dramatically reduced the threat of Iranian retaliation after an attack on its facilities.

Asked why Israel alone should be allowed to have nuclear arms in the region, Levin cited the Holocaust and what he called similar threats throughout history. In addition, he said, Israel still faces the threat of being wiped out by some of its neighbors, “so it’s a deterrent against that kind of a threat.”

A senior Obama administration official, asked about Levin’s remarks, said, “Our focus remains on a diplomatic solution, as we believe diplomacy coupled with strong pressure can achieve the long-term solution we seek.”