Commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Claims Strait of Hormuz Closed, Threatens to Burn Passing Vessels

TENSIONS in the Middle East have reached a boiling point after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officially announced a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, 3 March. This strategic shipping route, which serves as the lifeblood of global energy supply, has been declared closed to all commercial vessel traffic.

This hard-line statement was delivered by Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabari, a senior advisor to the IRGC’s supreme commander. He affirmed that Iranian military forces have been ordered to attack any vessel that dares to challenge the blockade.

“The Strait of Hormuz has been officially closed. If anyone attempts to pass through, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guard and regular naval forces will burn those ships,” Jabari stated, as cited by Iran’s government media outlet, IRIB.

This step was taken in retaliation for the US and Israeli military operation “Epic Fury” launched in late February, which resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran is now using the Strait of Hormuz as an economic weapon to pressure the international community.

The closure claim is not merely a verbal threat. A tanker vessel named Athe Nova was reported to have caught fire in waters near the strait after being struck by two suicide drones. The IRGC claimed the vessel belonged to a US ally that was attempting an illegal passage.

The impact of this closure has been immediately felt in the energy market. Global crude oil prices of the Brent variety surged sharply by 6.7 per cent, reaching US$77.74 per barrel. Economic analysts have warned that a prolonged total closure could push crude oil prices above US$100 per barrel.

As of this report’s publication, there has been no official confirmation from the US Central Command (CENTCOM) regarding the physical status of the strait’s closure, though global maritime insurance companies have reportedly begun withdrawing war risk coverage for vessels heading towards the Persian Gulf.