Iran Votes to Close Strait of Hormuz Following U.S. Strikes on Nuclear Facilities…Iran’s parliament has voted in favour of closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, in retaliation for recent U.S. airstrikes on the country’s nuclear facilities.
The decision, while not yet final, has already sparked serious international concerns, as the strait is one of the most strategically important waterways in the world, with nearly 20 percent of the global oil supply passing through it daily.
The parliamentary vote signals Iran’s growing frustration and a possible readiness to escalate the conflict.
However, analysts point out that the Iranian parliament does not have the final authority to enforce the closure.
Such a decision would require the approval of the Supreme National Security Council, which ultimately controls Iran’s military and strategic decisions.
Despite this, the parliamentary vote alone has been enough to unsettle global markets and raise fears of a significant disruption to international oil and gas shipments.
Following the announcement, the United States strongly condemned Iran’s move, describing it as a dangerous and self-destructive step.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that any attempt by Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz would be met with swift and decisive international response.
He described the proposed closure as “economic suicide” for Iran and urged China and other global powers to persuade Tehran to reconsider its position.
The U.S. also warned that a blockade would trigger immediate military actions aimed at reopening the vital passage, including naval operations and potential airstrikes to secure safe passage for commercial vessels.
The global oil market reacted sharply to the developments.
Oil prices surged to a five-month high following the initial reports of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and climbed even further when news of the parliamentary vote to close the strait broke.
Although prices settled slightly later in the day, experts warned that any serious threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz could push crude oil prices beyond $100 per barrel, placing additional pressure on global economies already grappling with inflation.
Asian countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea, which are heavily dependent on oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz, would likely suffer the most from any prolonged disruption.
Energy analysts believe that a full blockade could choke off vital fuel supplies, send shipping insurance rates skyrocketing, and place additional strain on vulnerable economies.
Although the United States is now a net exporter of oil and gas, it would not be immune to the wider economic fallout, particularly in the form of rising fuel prices and market instability.
Military officials confirmed that the U.S., along with naval forces from the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and other allies, has increased security operations in the Gulf region.
They stressed that while the situation remains tense, commercial shipping has not yet been physically blocked, and efforts are underway to maintain open navigation routes.
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However, defence analysts noted that while Iran may struggle to enforce a complete and sustained blockade due to its own reliance on the strait for oil exports, even temporary disruption could have significant consequences.
Iranian officials have defended the parliamentary vote as a legitimate response to what they see as U.S. aggression.
They argued that the strikes on nuclear facilities were acts of provocation and a violation of international law.
Iranian lawmakers emphasized that the decision to close the strait was part of a range of options available to Tehran should Western military pressure continue.
While it remains uncertain whether the Supreme National Security Council will approve the closure, the vote highlights just how volatile the situation has become.
The possibility of the strait’s closure, even as a temporary measure, underscores the danger of further escalation and the high stakes for global stability.
As the international community scrambles to calm tensions, the world is watching closely, aware that any miscalculation could tip the region into a broader conflict with severe economic and human consequences.
