In a dramatic escalation, Iran’s parliament has endorsed a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. airstrikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV, the move reflects a unified parliamentary stance, though ultimate authority lies with the Supreme National Security Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran has frequently threatened to close the Strait in times of conflict or political pressure. However, this latest endorsement, coming in the immediate aftermath of direct U.S. military action, marks one of the most serious and formal moves toward actual closure.
The Strait sees the daily passage of over 17 million barrels of oil, accounting for nearly 20% of the world’s seaborne oil trade. This makes it the most important energy chokepoint globally. Major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, Iran, and Qatar rely on it to export their crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to global markets.
Nations like India, China, Japan, and countries in the European Union are heavily dependent on uninterrupted oil flows through the Strait. Disruption could cause not only regional instability but also global supply chain shocks in fuel, plastics, and other petroleum-derived products.
Given its importance, the Strait of Hormuz is also heavily militarized. The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain, maintains a constant presence to safeguard international shipping routes. Simultaneously, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operates in the area, asserting its control and influence. This makes the Strait a potential flashpoint for direct confrontation between major powers.
Any closure, partial or total, would likely trigger an immediate surge in global oil prices. Even temporary disruptions historically result in volatility and panic in global markets.
A blockade would hit energy-dependent nations the hardest. India, China, Japan, and South Korea, all heavily reliant on Gulf oil, would face fuel shortages, rising costs, and inflation. Moreover, shipping insurance premiums and transport costs would soar, further impacting the global economy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China to help deter Iran from shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade route through which one-fifth of global oil output passes.
A Strait closure would likely prompt a swift military response from the United States and its allies to protect freedom of navigation. Such a response could be a potential escalation into a broader regional conflict
The Strait of Hormuz is recognized as an international waterway under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Any attempt to block it would be considered a violation of international law, likely resulting in global condemnation, UN Security Council action, and the reimposition of severe economic sanctions on Iran.
Iran possesses several tools to disrupt shipping, including naval mines, anti-ship missiles, drones, submarines, and fast-attack boats. However, maintaining a full closure would be extremely challenging given the overwhelming naval superiority of the U.S. and its allies.
While Iran may see the closure as a show of strength, it would also severely harm its own interests. Iran is the world's ninth-biggest oil-producing country, with output of about 3.3 million barrels per day. Iran exports a significant portion of its oil through the Strait; blocking it would choke off the country’s critical revenue source, worsening an already struggling economy.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait in response to sanctions or foreign military actions, but this latest parliamentary endorsement is more serious. It comes after direct U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and coincides with escalating tensions across the region, including conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and the Red Sea.
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