Iran declares Strait of Hormuz closed
A senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has warned that Tehran will attack any vessel attempting to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in an already volatile region.
Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said the waterway was now closed and threatened military action against ships defying the order. His remarks, carried by Iranian state media, represent Tehran’s clearest signal yet that it is prepared to enforce a blockade.
The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoint, linking major Gulf producers — including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates — to international markets via the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Roughly one-fifth of global daily oil consumption moves through the narrow channel, which measures about 33 kilometres at its tightest point.
Energy analysts warn that any sustained disruption could send crude prices sharply higher, unsettle global markets and strain supply chains already facing geopolitical uncertainty.
The announcement follows recent US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets. US President Donald Trump said the operations aimed to weaken Iran’s military capabilities and signalled support for political change in Tehran.
In retaliation, Iran launched missile barrages toward Gulf states hosting US bases, including Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, as well as strikes targeting the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Shipping lanes in the wider region have already been strained by attacks from Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Analysts caution that a prolonged closure of Hormuz could trigger a broader military confrontation and deepen instability across global energy markets.
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