Iran Insists Closing Strait of Hormuz an Option; US Insists Iran Still Has Path to End Dispute

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations reiterated his country's stance that closing the Strait of Hormuz is an option if Iran deems it necessary to deal with a security threat.

"There is no decision to block and close the Strait of Hormuz unless Iran is threatened seriously and somebody wants to tighten the noose," Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee said on a PBS news program. "All the options are or would be on the table."

Meanwhile in Washington DC, the White House is still hoping Iran will take "a peaceful way out" of the controntation over its nuclear program.

"If the Iranians are serious about restarting talks, then they need to respond to [EU envoy Catherine Ashton's] letter," White House spokesman Jay Carney said to reporters in a White House briefing. "That is the channel by which...the restarting of those talks would take place."

Carney declined to comment on reports that President Barack Obama sent Iranian leaders a letter suggesting direct talks.