Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply on Thursday after Iranian state media announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the strategic waterway could be targeted.
The announcement came amid renewed United States military strikes on Iranian targets for the second consecutive day, deepening fears of a wider regional conflict and triggering fresh volatility in global oil markets.
According to Iranian state television, Tehran dismissed American assurances regarding the safety of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that the waterway could no longer be considered secure amid ongoing hostilities.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's most critical energy corridors, with roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments passing through the narrow channel daily. Any disruption to shipping activities in the area is expected to have significant consequences for international energy supplies and global markets.
The latest escalation followed remarks by United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who indicated that American military operations against Iran would intensify.
