pheyton wrote:.... to prevent the shipment of benzene and certain other refined oil products headed to Iranian ports. Iran has limited domestic oil refining capacity and imports 40% of its benzene. Cutting off benzene and other key products would cripple the Iranian economy.
Some how I don't see how a cut in 40% in the supply of anti-knock/octane booster for gasoline is going to cripple their economy...this isn't the 1930's and its not Japan and its complete lack of aviation fuel refining capacity.
And apparently Iran has had enough spare refining capacity to export gasoline to Iraq in the last few years.