• Cable slid to threaten 1.3383 in Asia as safe-haven USD rose on Middle East news

• U.S. to blockade Iran ports after weekend talks failed to yield a deal; oil above $100

• 1.3383 was Thursday's low (1.3382 was Wednesday's NY session low)

• The high water-mark since the Asian session drop to threaten 1.3383 is 1.3415

• Friday's high was 1.3478 (after dollar fell on cooler than expected U.S. CPI data)

• CFTC data showed net GBP short rose 7% to 56,354 contracts in week to April 7

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(Robert Howard is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)