Middle East on edge as Iran declares Strait of Hormuz closure
by KalingaTV Bureau · KalingaTVAdvertisement
New Delhi: Middle Eastern tensions took a severe turn for the worse earlier on Saturday after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had indefinitely shut down the Strait of Hormuz in response to further US airstrikes on targets in Iran.
In its statement, the IRGC warned it would block all shipping traffic through the vital waterway and threatened military action against vessels attempting to pass through the route.
The statement followed confirmation of new strikes by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which called them defensive actions against targets in Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important maritime chokepoint. It lies between Iran and Oman, and a significant proportion of all world oil and liquefied natural gas trade has to be transported through it by sea.
Experts put the figure at about 40 percent of all world maritime energy trade.
The news immediately caused alarm in global energy markets as traders watched for any signs of supply disruptions.
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Analysts warn of further increases in oil prices and shipping costs and their overall impact on the global economy if the tensions continue.
Governments around the world have reacted with calls for de-escalation. Several nations have urged both sides to exercise restraint.
Military analysts say any effectively enforced blockade would have serious global geopolitical ramifications and lead to increased involvement of additional countries.
As such, all eyes will be looking at diplomatic routes to defuse the situation.
It is unclear how the events will unfold, but further military and diplomatic responses are anticipated in the days to come as more scrutiny is given to the global implications of the events.
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