Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, threatens ships
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced the Strait of Hormuz is closed and will fire on any ship attempting passage, according to Iranian media. The strait, a critical oil transit route, connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and handles 20% of global oil consumption. Last year, over 20 million barrels of crude, condensate, and fuels passed through daily, with OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq relying on it for exports. Qatar also sends nearly all its LNG through the strait. This closure follows US and Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks and regional airspace closures. Over 600 Iranians and six US soldiers killed, with 10 confirmed deaths in Israel. Ships have avoided the strait due to attack fears even before this announcement.