Iran’s Supreme National Security Council must make the final decision on whether to close the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Press TV said on Sunday, after parliament reportedly approved the measure.
The decision to close the strait, through which around 20 percent of global oil and gas demand flows, is not yet final. But lawmaker and Revolutionary Guards Commander Esmail Kosari told the Young Journalist Club on Sunday that doing so is on the agenda and “will be done whenever necessary.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage connecting the Arabian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, is arguably the most critical maritime route for global energy transit. Roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies pass through the strait, which lies between Iran and Oman.
Any disruption to this flow would send shockwaves through global energy markets, potentially triggering a sharp spike in oil prices and further destabilizing an already volatile region.
The strait has long been a geopolitical flashpoint. Iran has threatened to close it in the past, especially during periods of heightened tension with the United States. But despite multiple threats over the years, it has never gone so far as to shut it down, a move that would be widely seen as an act of escalation with global consequences.
We remind our readers that publication of articles on our site does not mean that we agree with what is written. Our policy is to publish anything which we consider of interest, so as to assist our readers in forming their opinions. Sometimes we even publish articles with which we totally disagree, since we believe it is important for our readers to be informed on as wide a spectrum of views as possible.
