Iran’s defense minister has just announced that Iran is starting production of its own submarines–Iran already has some Russian-supplied submarines–in order to “maintain security in the vital oil shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz waterway.” Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said that Iran’s armed forces “have been the protector of the security of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and regards the security of this waterway as vital for itself and the countries of the region.”

This is bad news. Iran has threatened to close the Straits more than once in recent times. And even if Iran was truly to become the guarantor of security for the flow of oil through the Straits, that would be a bit like Russia becoming the guarantor of security for the flow of oil and gas from the Caspian and Caucasus region to Europe. Ask Georgia how reassuring that is, and you’ll see why Iranian submarines are nothing to feel secure about!