Iran’s parliament has approved a motion to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported Sunday, citing Iran’s state-run Press TV. While the vote is seen as largely symbolic, it carries considerable political weight amid growing domestic demands for a strong response to what Iranian officials have called a “blatant act of aggression” by the United States and its allies.
The measure, overwhelmingly passed by members of the Majlis, now awaits a final decision from the Supreme National Security Council, Iran’s highest authority on defense and security matters.
The vote comes less than 24 hours after coordinated U.S. airstrikes hit Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan — a move that has sharply escalated tensions in the region and drawn Tehran closer to open confrontation.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime chokepoint linking the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, serves as a vital artery for global energy supplies, with around 20 percent of the world’s oil passing through it daily. Any disruption could trigger severe consequences for energy markets, particularly for major oil importers such as China, India, and Europe.
Global markets have already begun to react. On Sunday, Brent crude futures surged over 9 percent, reaching prices not seen since late 2022. Since June 13, when Israel launched a series of attacks on Iranian military and civilian sites, oil prices have risen by roughly 10 percent.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had previously indicated that closing the Strait was among the potential retaliatory measures under consideration in response to U.S. military action. Tehran could also resort to targeting vessels it deems hostile or deploying naval mines, both of which would likely drive energy prices even higher and deepen the crisis.
At its narrowest point, the Strait is just 55 kilometers wide, making it a highly vulnerable and strategic location in the current geopolitical standoff.
