Iran’s parliament has approved a motion to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a critical conduit for global oil shipments, in retaliation for recent US and Israeli military strikes and what Tehran calls continued violations of its sovereignty.
The decision, announced Sunday during a special session of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, gives legal backing to a potential closure of the strait, though its enforcement still requires final approval from the country’s Supreme National Security Council.
The move comes amid heightened tensions following airstrikes reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel on Iranian nuclear and military installations earlier this month, including facilities in Natanz and Fordow.
Lawmakers said the decision to shut the strait was necessary to protect national security and assert Iran’s rights over its territorial waters.
“The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is on the agenda and will be done whenever necessary,” said lawmaker Esmail Kosari, a former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“We cannot allow hostile nations to threaten our survival while they benefit from transiting freely through our own maritime routes.”
Roughly 20 percent of global oil passes through the narrow strait each day. Any disruption could severely affect global supply chains and send oil prices soaring.
International energy markets reacted immediately, with Brent crude futures jumping above $95 per barrel in early trading Monday.
While the parliament’s vote signals Iran’s intent, the final authority to close the strait lies with the Supreme National Security Council, led by President Ebrahim Raisi and overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
No timeline has been given for when, or if, the closure would be implemented.
Iran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz have surfaced repeatedly over the past two decades, typically during periods of diplomatic or military pressure.
However, analysts warn that this time may be different. The parliamentary vote follows direct attacks on Iranian infrastructure, a sharp escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel, and increasingly tense confrontations with US naval forces in the Gulf.
The United States has not formally responded to the vote, but American officials have long made it clear that any attempt to obstruct the strait would be met with force.
The US Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain, regularly patrols the Gulf and has increased its presence in recent days amid reports of Iranian naval drills and harassment of commercial vessels.
The United Nations has also raised alarm over the situation, urging all parties to exercise restraint and warning that a closure of the strait could trigger a global economic and humanitarian crisis.
Iran, for its part, maintains that it is acting defensively. State media reports say the measure is intended to send a message to foreign powers that “continued aggression will carry costs.”
Still, the potential consequences of such a move — including a possible military confrontation and further economic isolation — could be severe for Tehran itself.
The Strait of Hormuz remains open for now. But with Iran’s parliament now on record in favor of closure, the threat has shifted from rhetoric to legal posture, raising the stakes in an already volatile region.