A senior official from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards warned on Monday (Mar 2) that the Strait of Hormuz is now closed and any ship attempting to pass would be targeted, according to Iranian state media.
Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the Guards’ commander-in-chief, said, “The strait is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze.” This marks Iran’s most explicit warning since announcing the closure of the vital export route on Saturday, a move that could disrupt a fifth of global oil flows and sharply push up crude prices.
The Strait of Hormuz links major Gulf oil producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates, to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Its closure comes after US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb 28 aimed at destabilising the country’s leadership, with US President Donald Trump offering assistance in removing the ruling clerics.
In retaliation, Tehran launched multiple missile barrages at Gulf neighbours hosting US military bases, including Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, and also targeted Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman. Analysts say the move fulfils long-standing Iranian threats to block the strategic waterway in response to attacks on the Islamic Republic.
Around 20 per cent of the world’s daily oil consumption passes through the 33km-wide strait at its narrowest point, making the announcement a major concern for global energy markets. Shipping disruptions have already been reported due to missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the Gaza conflict began in 2023.
The escalation heightens fears of a broader conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel, with potential repercussions for global oil supply and regional stability.
