The Iranian parliament approved a motion calling for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime gateway for global oil shipments, according to several media reports citing Iran’s state-owned media.
The Iran Supreme National Security Council will review and decide on implementing this measure, the Gulf News reported on Sunday, after the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
“One of Iran’s clear options in response to foreign aggression is closing the Strait of Hormuz,” said Mohammad Hassan Asfari, a member of the parliament’s national security committee. “We will act when the time is right.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a statement urging China to deter Iran from shutting the trade route, describing it as “economic suicide” should Beijing and Tehran let it happen. “If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake,” he said.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is the transit point for roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply. Any disruption could have far-reaching implications for global energy markets, according to Gulf News
