Iran threatens military action against ships in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Official Reiterates Strait of Hormuz Closure Threat

A senior adviser to the commander-in-chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, warning vessels attempting to pass through will be attacked. Ebrahim Jabari made the statement on Monday.

According to Iranian state media, Jabari stated, “The strait is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guard and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze.” He also warned that Iran would target oil pipelines and prevent any oil from leaving the region, citing a potential increase in oil prices.

Jabari’s comments were posted on the IRGC’s Telegram channel and quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is a critical oil transit route accounting for approximately 20% of global oil supplies.

The region’s energy markets have already experienced significant price fluctuations following disruptions to tanker traffic through the strait and damage to production facilities. Natural gas prices in Europe rose by nearly 50%, while those in Asia increased by around 40%. Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery was also targeted by drones, with its defenses downing incoming aircraft.

In response to the situation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the country would take action to mitigate rising energy prices.

Source: Al Jazeera