Iran threatens to attack any vessel trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz

Iranian media reported that a senior Revolutionary Guards official told them on Monday, "the Strait of Hormuz was closed" and that Iran would fire at any ships trying to pass.

This is Iran's?most explicit warning since it told ships on Saturday that?it would?close the export route. The move threatens to choke off a fifth global oil flow and send crude prices sharply up.

The Strait of Hormuz is closed. The Revolutionary Guards will burn down any ships that try to pass. This was stated by Ebrahim Jbari, senior advisor to the commander-in chief of the Guards.

The Strait is the most important oil export route in the world, connecting the Gulf of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia with Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.

The 'closure' was triggered on February 28 by U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, which were aimed at toppling its leaders. U.S. president Donald Trump offered Iranians assistance in the removal of the ruling clerics.

Iran responded by firing several missiles on its Gulf neighbors, including Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, which host U.S. bases. Tehran also fired missiles towards the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Oman.

This closure was a retaliation to the Islamic Republic's attacks.

The Strait of Hormuz is only 33 kilometers wide (21 miles), but it accounts for 20% of global oil consumption.

The oil markets are focused on tensions that exist between Iran and its old enemies, the U.S., and Israel. They fear a full-blown war would disrupt supply and destabilize the region.

This?move comes after the global shipping industry had already been disrupted by drone and missile attacks launched by Iran-aligned Houthi terrorists in?Yemen. Since the Gaza War broke out in 2023, the group has targeted vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

(source: Reuters)