Strait of Hormuz: Why Iran’s Closure Threats Alarm the World

Iran has explicitly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz as a response to military operations by Israel. Global shipping finds itself at the center of a geopolitical storm. The Iran-Israel conflict threatens to upset the delicate balance in the region and bring to light the darkest fears of global markets: the risk of energy suffocation and maritime instability if Iran follows through on its threats. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s daily oil consumption passes, is one of the options Iran could activate against its enemies, according to Behnam Saedi, a member of Iran’s National Security Committee. However, MP Ali Yazdikhah clarified that free navigation in the Persian Gulf and the Strait will continue unless Iran’s vital national interests are jeopardized. Analysts from ING Bank explain there is no real alternative for most countries shipping through the Hormuz Strait. A video published on X platform vividly illustrates the massive volume of activity in the Strait, highlighting the potential global impact of any closure. International concern grows as experts debate whether Iran would truly take such drastic measures.