Iranian state media reported that Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the Revolutionary Guards commander-in-chief, said on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and that Revolutionary Guards forces and the regular navy would set ships on fire if they try to pass.
The warning followed statements on Saturday that Iran was closing the export route. The strait connects major Gulf oil producersâincluding Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the United Arab Emiratesâto the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and carries about 20% of the worldâs daily oil consumption.
The reported closure was described as triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 aimed at toppling its leaders, with U.S. President Donald Trump offering Iranians help in ousting the ruling clerics. The text reports Iran responded by firing missile barrages at Gulf neighbors hosting U.S. military bases, including Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, and also fired missiles at the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
The report notes shipping disruptions in the region have also been linked to drone and missile attacks by Yemenâs Iran-aligned Houthi militants since 2023.