Iran has issued a stark warning that it could shut down the Strait of Hormuz entirely if the United States acts on threats against Iranian power plants.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas flows, has already seen a dramatic reduction in traffic, with only a fraction of vessels managing to pass since the conflict began. According to analytics firm Kpler, current maritime transit stands at around five percent of pre-war levels.
In a statement reported by local media Iranian military’s operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, said, “If the United States carries out threats against Iran’s power plants, the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed.
“It will remain closed until our damaged facilities are rebuilt”.
The statement also warned of possible strikes on Israel’s power and ICT infrastructure, as well as energy installations in countries hosting U.S. military bases or companies with U.S. shareholders.
“These measures are aimed at defending our nation and its interests”, it added.
Iranian forces have targeted vessels passing through the strait that ignored prior warnings, while allowing limited passage for ships from countries it considers friendly.
In parallel, Iran’s parliament is reportedly considering imposing shipping tolls, with Speaker, Mohammad Ghalib, saying maritime traffic may never return to pre-war levels.
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