Tehran – Washington, March 10, 2026 – Amid escalating tensions following US and Israeli attacks on major oil facilities in Tehran and Alborz, Iran officially announced today that it will close the Strait of Hormuz – a shipping route for 20% of the world’s oil – and warned it will “burn” any ship attempting to pᴀss through.
Official Statement from Iran
Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabari (Senior Advisor to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps – IRGC) stated clearly on state television:
“The Strait of Hormuz is closed. If any ship attempts to pᴀss through, we will set those ships ablaze. Not a drop of oil will leave the area until the US and its allies withdraw from the Middle East.”
This is seen as a “furious retaliation” following a series of US-Israeli airstrikes on the Shahran and Aghdasiyeh oil storage facilities and other energy facilities in Tehran, causing mᴀssive fires and thick black smoke to blanket the capital.
The actual consequences are unfolding:
Shipping: Tanker traffic decreased by 86-90% in just 48 hours (MarineTraffic data). More than 250 oil tankers have made emergency anchorages, turned around, or are waiting in open sea.
Oil prices: Soared 10-15% in Asian trading, potentially pushing Brent prices above $120/barrel if the situation persists.
Black oil rain: Tehran residents continue to report “toxic oil rain” falling on the streets after the oil storage fires.
Reactions from the US and Israel:
CENTCOM (US): “We are monitoring this closely. Any attempt to shut down Hormuz will be met with a decisive and immediate military response.”
President Trump: In a Truth Social post, he warned Iran would “regret it 20 times over” if it carried out its threat. The US currently maintains three carrier strike groups (including the USS Abraham Lincoln) in the region.
Israel: Did not comment directly but confirmed it is “ready to defend the global oil route.”
Expert ᴀssessments
Many experts (Quincy Insтιтute, International Crisis Group) believe this is Iran’s biggest escalation tactic since the 1980s, but actually closing the Strait of Hormuz would cause enormous economic damage to Iran itself (they export 80% of their oil through this strait). Currently, Hormuz is not completely closed, but traffic is almost paralyzed due to fear.
