Times Now Digital
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said over VHF radio that no vessels may cross the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Reuters. According to an official with the European Union’s naval mission, the key shipping route is closed. However, Iran has not confirmed issuing any such order.
The Strait of Hormuz is the main path for oil leaving the Gulf. It connects major producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. A sudden closure can impact global trade within hours.
Iran has issued similar warnings in past periods of tension. Its leaders said they may block the waterway if the country faces attack. Revolutionary Guard commanders have repeated the threat many times, including earlier this year.
Why Does Strait Of Hormuz Matter?
The strait lies between Iran and Oman’s Musandam region. It links the Gulf to the Indian Ocean. It is only about 50 kilometers wide and shallow in many areas. This makes it easy to disrupt in a conflict.
The US Energy Information Administration says about one-fifth of global oil moved through the strait in 2024. A similar share of global LNG shipments also used this route, mostly from Qatar. Over 80 percent of these shipments go to Asia.
Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have extra pipelines, but they can re-route only a small share of their exports.
Several important islands sit near the shipping lanes. Iran controls Hormuz, Qeshm and Larak. It also holds Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, which the UAE disputes. These positions give Iran strong control over nearby waters.
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