US Navy Blocks Strait Of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions With Iran
US Navy Blocks Strait Of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions With Iran...
The US Navy has imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most critical oil shipping route, following escalating tensions with Iran. The move, confirmed by Pentagon officials early Monday, comes after Iran threatened to close the strait in response to new US sanctions over its nuclear program.
Over 20% of global oil shipments pass through the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. The blockade has already caused oil prices to spike by 8% in early trading, with Brent crude surpassing $110 per barrel for the first time since 2022. US officials say the action is necessary to prevent Iranian aggression against commercial shipping.
The White House stated the blockade will remain in effect until Iran agrees to halt uranium enrichment activities. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called it "a defensive measure to protect freedom of navigation" during a press briefing Monday morning.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the US action as "piracy" during a televised address. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has reportedly placed its coastal missile batteries on high alert. Commercial tanker traffic through the strait has effectively halted, with at least 15 oil tankers currently anchored outside the chokepoint.
The blockade follows weeks of rising tensions after the collapse of nuclear negotiations in Vienna last month. Satellite images analyzed by defense analysts show increased Iranian naval activity near the strait over the past 72 hours.
US allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have expressed support for the blockade. However, China and Russia have called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting, labeling the move as illegal under international law.
Gas prices in the US are projected to rise sharply if the blockade continues. The national average could exceed $4.50 per gallon by week's end, according to AAA forecasts. The Biden administration is reportedly considering tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to mitigate price shocks.
The situation remains fluid, with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group now patrolling near the strait. Defense officials say additional US forces are being deployed to the region as a precautionary measure.
