Iran Threatens Strait of Hormuz Closure Amid Escalating Tensions

Mohsen Rezaee, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has warned neighboring Gulf states that backing US economic pressure against Tehran would be seen as an act of war. The warning came with a threat to close the Strait of Hormuz and halt all Persian Gulf oil exports.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway between Iran and Oman that handles about 25% of the world's seaborne crude oil trade. Iran has made similar threats before, but the current geopolitical environment makes this rhetoric more dangerous.

The US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran in late February 2026, triggering a chain of escalations that destabilized the region. Iran responded by aggressively asserting control over shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, turning a theoretical threat into operational reality.

Iran's oil exports have plummeted to below 300,000 barrels per day at their lowest points, crushed by enforced blockades and operational disruptions tied to US sanctions. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE rely on uninterrupted oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, which would be severely impacted by a sustained blockade.