In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Iran’s parliament has voted to authorize the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil shipping lanes. The unprecedented move, announced during an emergency session in Tehran, follows U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Iran’s missile retaliation against Israel.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, is a critical chokepoint for nearly 20% of the global oil supply. Each day, approximately 17 million barrels of oil pass through the strait, making it essential to global energy markets. Any disruption would have immediate and far-reaching economic consequences.
According to Iranian state media, the new legislation—backed overwhelmingly by conservative and hardline members of parliament—grants Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) authority to “secure and regulate” transit through the strait in response to “acts of war” committed by the United States and Israel.
Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared, “The Islamic Republic will not allow enemies to strike us with impunity and continue benefiting from our strategic waters. The Strait of Hormuz is no longer open to aggressors.”
While the vote does not guarantee an immediate physical blockade, Iranian naval vessels and missile batteries along the Persian Gulf coast have reportedly been placed on high alert. Defense analysts believe that a de facto closure could begin within days, either through the deployment of mines, harassment of commercial ships, or outright interdiction of foreign-flagged tankers.
The U.S. Department of Defense has issued a strong warning, stating that any attempt to block international shipping lanes will be considered an act of aggression. U.S. Navy warships in the region—including the USS Eisenhower carrier strike group—have been repositioned closer to the strait, and surveillance flights have increased.
Oil markets reacted immediately. Brent crude surged over 12%, reaching levels not seen since the 2022 energy crisis. Traders and analysts are bracing for more volatility as fears mount over a potential full-scale conflict that could paralyze global supply chains and deepen inflationary pressures worldwide.
European and Asian nations, heavily dependent on Gulf oil, have expressed deep concern. Japan and South Korea have called for emergency diplomatic dialogue, while the European Union urged Iran to respect international maritime law and keep the strait open to all.
The closure—or even threatened closure—of the Strait of Hormuz has long been considered a worst-case scenario by global energy and security experts. Today’s parliamentary move transforms that fear into a fast-developing geopolitical reality.
As the crisis deepens, the world is watching for the next move—not just from Tehran, but also from Washington, Tel Aviv, and global oil-consuming powers who now face the chilling prospect of an energy chokehold from one of the most volatile flashpoints on the planet.
