The Iranian regime threatened this Monday (2) to attack and “burn” any vessel that tries to break the blockade and cross the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s main oil flow route, amid the military escalation following the bombings by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets last Saturday (28). The statement was made by Ebrahim Jabari, senior advisor to the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, and reported by Iranian state media.
“The Strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to pass through, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guard and the regular Navy will set these ships on fire,” Jabari said.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is considered the most strategic sea route on the planet for transporting oil. Around 20% of global daily consumption of the commodity passes through the region, which is approximately 33 kilometers wide at its narrowest point.
Data from the consultancy firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence indicate that maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has fallen by more than 80% since the beginning of the confrontation between the United States, Israel and the Iranian regime. In periods of stability in the region, the route registers, on average, around 140 vessels per day. At least five oil tankers have been hit by Iranian forces since the start of the confrontation, with the death of one sailor.
