Iran’s Parliament Backs Strait of Hormuz Closure Following U.S. Strikes, Raising Global Oil Market Fears

by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

TEHRAN / WASHINGTON (Worthy News) — Iran’s parliament on Sunday endorsed a resolution to close the Strait of Hormuz, the vital oil shipping lane linking the Persian Gulf to global markets, in response to devastating U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

The symbolic measure follows Operation Midnight Hammer, the U.S.-led assault that President Donald Trump hailed as a “spectacular military success” that left Iran’s Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites “completely and totally obliterated.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes aimed to “neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” warning that any further aggression from Tehran would bring swift and decisive U.S. action.

While Iran’s lawmakers approved the closure, the decision rests with the Supreme National Security Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who were expected to announce their stance by Sunday night, according to Iranian state media.

The Strait of Hormuz, just 20 miles wide at its narrowest point, is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. About 30% of global seaborne oil shipments, or $1 billion in daily oil exports, pass through its narrow channels. A closure could send oil prices soaring and upend global energy markets. The move would particularly impact key importers such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea.

Despite the parliamentary vote, analysts say an actual blockade is improbable. Gregory Brew of Eurasia Group told Axios such an action would amount to “an effective declaration of war against the Gulf states and the U.S.,” something Tehran may be unwilling to risk as it grapples with mounting sanctions and internal economic challenges. Iran itself relies on the Strait to export what little crude oil it can under international sanctions.

Nonetheless, Revolutionary Guards Commander Esmail Kosari warned on state TV that Iran’s response to the U.S. and Israeli strikes “will be done whenever necessary,” hinting the closure threat could mark a significant escalation in the standoff.

Historically, the strait’s strategic vulnerability — with shipping lanes just two miles wide in each direction and easily mined shallow waters — has made it a flashpoint. Past Iranian seizures of foreign tankers, including Greek and Israel-linked vessels, have disrupted shipping in the region. Meanwhile, Houthi rebel attacks in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have already forced some shipping companies to reroute around Africa, reducing Red Sea traffic by 70% this month compared to recent years.

If Iran proceeds with the Hormuz closure, the dual threat of blockages in both the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf could paralyze key maritime routes, forcing vessels to take lengthy detours around the Cape of Good Hope and triggering ripple effects across global trade and economies.

The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, continues to patrol the strait, and any attempt by Iran to enforce a closure is expected to meet immediate military resistance. Under international law, the strait is recognized as an international waterway, limiting Iran’s legal authority to block passage.

As tensions rise, the world watches closely to see if Tehran will escalate further or step back from the brink of a conflict that could have far-reaching consequences.

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