Today’s Washington Examiner is reporting that Iran has blocked approximately 2,500 fuel trucks from delivering fuel to Afghanistan since late December.  Iran supplies about thirty percent of Afghanistan’s refined fuel, the rest, from Iraq and Turkmenistan, transits Iran. 

Teheran has stated that the blockade is part of an effort to slash domestic fuel subsidies in order to cut costs (Iran is being squeezed economically by international sanctions), and also expressed a fear that some of the fuel would be going to NATO forces operating in Afghanistan.  How the fuel is being used should not be their concern!  (Although Afghan leaders say that the fuel is for Afghan use–not NATO.)

When the blockade began, fuel prices rose from $900 a ton to about $1,500.  Iran has let some of the trucks through since late December, and prices have now dropped to about $1,350 a ton. 

Afghan businessmen have vowed to stop doing business with Iran until the blockade is stopped.  There is a very important reason for Americans to pay attention to this situation.  Iran controls a major part of the world’s oil.  Because America has refused to develop her own resources, we are subject to blackmail by Iran because of our dependence on their oil.  Until we have our own oil resources, we will not be able to halt their nuclear program or protest the human rights violations of their government.  Our President and Congressional leaders are doing America a great disservice by blocking drilling in America–both offshore and in Alaska.  We need to remember that at the ballot box.