The Strait of Hormuz provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is a critally important route for the transport of oil.

20:45, Mon, Mar 2, 2026 Updated: 21:41, Mon, Mar 2, 2026

OMAN-IRAN-US-ISRAEL-CONFLICT

The Palau-flagged oil tanker Skylight, under US sanctions, engulfed in flames on March 1 (Image: UGC/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran has warned it will bomb any tankers trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and won't let any oil leave the region after closing the critally important route. Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabbari, a senior adviser to the Guards commander-in-chief, announced that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and Iran will attack any ship trying to pass.

In remarks carried by Iranian state media, he said: "The Strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze." He added that Iran would strike oil pipelines and infrastructure across the Middle East to block exports. “We will also attack oil pipelines and will not allow a single drop of oil to leave the region,” he said, predicting that “oil prices will reach $200 in the coming days.”

The remarks represent a significant intensification of warnings about the stability of global energy supplies.

The latest news from around the world Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

The strait, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, serving as a narrow passage through which a significant share of global oil shipments must pass. Its strategic position has long made it a focal point of geopolitical tension, with any disruption there carrying immediate implications for international energy markets and regional security.

THIS IS A BREAKING STORY. MORE TO FOLLOW...