Iran has warned that it will open fire on vessels attempting to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising fears of major disruptions to global oil supply.
According to Iranian state media, a senior official from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that the key shipping lane had been closed and any vessel attempting to cross would face military action.
“The strait is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze,” said Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the IRGC commander-in-chief.
The warning marks Iran’s clearest threat yet since it announced on Saturday that it intended to block the vital export route.
The move has heightened concerns in global energy markets because the waterway handles a significant portion of the world’s oil shipments.
The Strait of Hormuz links major oil-producing countries in the Gulf including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea.
Analysts estimate that about 20 percent of the world’s daily oil consumption passes through the narrow channel, making it one of the most critical chokepoints in global trade.
The latest escalation follows recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets on February 28.
The strikes were intended to weaken Iran’s leadership, with U.S. President Donald Trump publicly stating that Washington would support Iranians seeking to remove the country’s ruling clerics.
In response, Tehran launched several missile attacks targeting Gulf states that host U.S. military bases, including Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. Iranian missiles were also fired toward the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman, further intensifying the regional crisis.
For years, Tehran has warned that it could close the Strait of Hormuz if the country came under attack. With the latest announcement, Iran appears to be acting on those threats for the first time in the current conflict.
The strait is about 33 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, yet it carries one of the largest volumes of crude oil shipments in the world. Any disruption there could send global oil prices sharply higher and affect energy supplies worldwide.
Shipping in the wider region has already faced growing risks. Attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement have targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023.
Energy analysts warn that any prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger severe consequences for global energy markets, given the heavy dependence of international oil trade on the route.