AXADLE, Somalia — Iran’s state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to maritime traffic, warning commercial and oil tankers against attempting to transit the waterway as regional tensions escalate.
According to Reuters, a senior IRGC commander said vessels that try to pass through the strait would face direct attack, adding that ships violating the order would be set ablaze. The remarks, carried by Iranian state outlets, immediately raised fears of energy-market turmoil given the corridor’s central role in global trade.
- Advertisement -
The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow maritime gateway from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through the channel, alongside significant volumes of liquefied natural gas bound largely for Asian markets.
Energy analysts warn that even a temporary disruption could rattle oil markets. A prolonged closure lasting weeks could push crude prices sharply higher and drive up natural gas prices in Europe, potentially returning them to levels seen during the 2022 energy crisis.
A shutdown would also reverberate beyond the Middle East. Countries heavily dependent on imported fuel and seaborne goods, including Somalia, could face rising pump prices and higher costs for basic commodities. Somalia relies on maritime imports for petroleum products and essential goods. Any interruption in shipping routes or a spike in freight and insurance costs would likely translate into higher domestic prices and additional strain on an already fragile economy.
The waterway borders Iran to the north. To the south and west, major producers depend on the strait to export crude and liquefied natural gas. Among the countries reliant on the corridor are:
- Saudi Arabia
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Qatar
- Bahrain
- United Arab Emirates
Global markets were closely monitoring Tehran’s next steps and the response of international powers concerned about the security of one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Any interruption to tanker traffic would likely force carriers and insurers to reassess risk, potentially slowing flows and adding costs even without a full shutdown.
While the extent and enforcement of the announced closure remained unclear, the warning underscores the vulnerability of a chokepoint that has repeatedly featured in regional flashpoints. With oil and gas transit so concentrated, any escalation has potential to ripple quickly through energy prices and supply chains far beyond the Gulf.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
