Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz:  global oil and gas artery to be cut off

After the United States launched the "Midnight Hammer" operation against Iran and bombed its three nuclear facilities, the Iranian parliament and the National Security Council have proposed to "consider closing the Strait of Hormuz."

This strategic decision quickly triggered multiple shocks in diplomacy, military and markets around the world. The Strait of Hormuz, a "maritime lifeline" less than 40 kilometers wide, once again stood at the center of the storm of world public opinion.

On April 30, 2019, Iranian soldiers were conducting patrols in the Strait of Hormuz.

📍 Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important?

Geographical location : connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, it is the only outlet for oil exports from the Middle East.
Global Energy Hub :

• About 20% of the world's oil shipments (about 20 million barrels per day) pass through here;

• The flow of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the highest in the world, and Qatar relies almost entirely on this channel.

If the Strait of Hormuz is blocked, it would be tantamount to strangling the global oil and gas artery.

🔥 Why does Iran dare to do this?

1. Geographical advantage : Iran controls the northern shore of the Strait and has deployed a large number of "speedboat tactics" and anti-ship missiles, such as "Noor" and "Fateh" and other precision strike weapons;

2. Strategic retaliation : Against the backdrop of air strikes on its nuclear facilities and increasing isolation from the international community, Hormuz is Iran’s last “maximum pressure card”;

3. Internal unity and external deterrence : Closing the Strait can boost domestic support and break isolation in regional confrontations;

4. Disrupt global stability and increase bargaining chips .

🗣️"If Iranian oil cannot be exported, no one can." - The famous saying of Soleimani, former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has now become a reality.

🌍 What are the global consequences of closing the Strait?

1. Global oil prices surge

• International oil prices may exceed $150 per barrel within a few days, which will have a short-term impact on the economic structure;

• Severe fluctuations in the oil futures market will trigger a chain reaction in Wall Street and Asian financial centers.

2. Energy security of China, Japan and South Korea is threatened

• Japan, South Korea, and China are all highly dependent on Persian Gulf crude oil;

• The skyrocketing cost of energy transportation may even trigger inflation and manufacturing stagnation.

3. Global shipping and insurance crisis

• Ships were rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, adding 30-40 days to the shipping cycle;

• The increased risk in war zones has caused insurance premiums to skyrocket, and some shipowners have chosen to suspend sailing;

• The strait blockade means that "the energy war has entered the substantive stage."

4. Risk of U.S. military and multinational fleet involvement increases

• The US Fifth Fleet is deployed in Bahrain and can quickly take control of the southern channel of the Strait;

• Iran has densely deployed radars and surface-to-sea missiles, and the risk of accidental firing is significant;

• If the United States chooses to "forcibly clear the scene", it will trigger a new round of direct military confrontation.

5. Alternative routes are under pressure and supply chain reconstruction is hindered

• Iraq, Saudi Arabia plan to bypass Hormuz via the Red Sea or surface pipeline;

• However, the infrastructure is limited and it is difficult to completely replace it;

• The global energy logistics chain has reached a bottleneck, severely damaging the manufacturing and transportation industries.

💡 Quick expert opinion:

"The closure of the Strait of Hormuz would cause more market panic than any nuclear test."
- Paul Sheldon, Global Energy Market Advisor, S&P

"If the U.S. military is forced to force a channel, it will be another Iraq War-level operation."
- Ret. Adm. James Stavridis, former commander of the U.S. European Command

“Chinese, Japanese and Korean companies may exhaust their strategic crude oil reserves within 90 days.”
— Nikkei Energy Observer, June 2025

🔚 Blogger’s summary: The closure of Hormuz will cause a global shock

Iran’s move is a typical “game of disruption”: it knows it cannot confront the West head-on in the air or economically, but it can launch an asymmetric attack at the most critical global node: energy circulation .

This is not only a continuation of military confrontation, but also a "nuclear button" in the geo-economic chain. In the next few weeks, the global market, diplomatic level, and military deployment will all start a round of game around "whether to restart Hormuz."

📌Future highlights :

• Will the United States step in to lift the blockade?

• Will China and Middle Eastern countries start negotiations on alternative energy routes?

• Is the market entering systemic energy inflation?

📢What do you think? Will the Strait of Hormuz become the fuse of World War III? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss!