Agencies: The Iranian parliament on Sunday, June 22, 2025, approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Arabiya, citing Press TV. Iranian state media further reported that the country's highest security body must finalize this decision.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic shipping lane through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil passes, as reported by Mintnews.
Iran has long threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz. Hossein Shariatmadari, a representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, reportedly called for immediate retaliation for Saturday night's US attack, including closing the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German, and French ships.
Where is the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow body of water connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. It is the sole maritime passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is considered one of the world's most strategically important chokepoints. It serves as a crucial export route for Gulf oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Kuwait.
Approximately 20 percent of the world's daily oil consumption, around 20 million barrels, transits through the strait.
For several decades, the strait has been a focal point of regional tension. Recently, attacks have occurred near it, targeting alternative oil routes that bypass Hormuz.
Most recently, President Trump blamed Iran for the June 12 attacks on two oil tankers at the Gulf's entrance, an accusation Tehran denied. This incident heightened concerns about a confrontation in this vital oil shipping route.
On July 19, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had seized a British-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf, following the UK's capture of an Iranian vessel on July 4.
Currently, media reports indicate that about 50 large oil tankers are attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's new threat, issued after the U.S. attack, has raised concerns about the potential for a Gulf conflict to disrupt global oil trade.
