A member of Iran’s parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee announced on Sunday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is prepared to close the Strait of Hormuz, a move that Washington has described as “suicidal.”
According to Iranian media reports, the Iranian Parliament has approved the potential closure of the Strait, pending final authorisation from the Supreme National Security Council. The parliamentary source stressed that the IRGC stands ready to shut down the strategic waterway “if necessary and dictated by the situation.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, in remarks broadcast by NBC, warned that any disruption to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz would be “a suicide mission for Iran.” He revealed that Washington had received indirect communications from Iranian officials in the hours following a U.S. airstrike.
In a parallel statement, IRGC commander and parliamentarian Ismail Kothari confirmed to Iran’s Young Journalists Club that closing the Strait remains a strategic option: “The decision will be made if the situation demands it,” he said.
Additional reports on Sunday quoted Iranian lawmaker Sara Fallahi, also a member of the National Security Committee, stating that the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be on the agenda at a special session of the parliamentary committee.
Though no specific timeline has been declared, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth cited an IRGC naval commander warning that the Strait could be shut down within hours.
The Strait of Hormuz: The Artery of Global Energy
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow yet critical shipping channel in the Persian Gulf, serves as the primary export route for the region’s oil supply. Often referred to as the lifeline of the industrial world, it facilitates the passage of nearly one-third of global oil consumption.
Tensions surrounding the Strait have flared numerous times in the past, but Iranian threats to close it have become more serious amid what many analysts are calling the most intense direct confrontation between Iran and Israel to date.
Earlier this month, another Iranian lawmaker confirmed that Tehran was seriously evaluating the strategic closure of the Strait in light of the military escalation.
U.S. Airstrikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities Escalate Conflict
These developments unfolded just hours after the United States formally entered the Israeli-Iranian war, with President Donald Trump announcing targeted strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities, including the uranium enrichment plant at Fordow.
Sources confirmed that U.S. warplanes struck Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, marking a significant military escalation that brought Washington directly into the conflict.
In immediate retaliation, Iran launched two waves of ballistic missiles toward Israel, causing widespread destruction in Greater Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Ness Ziona, south of Tel Aviv.
Full-Scale Confrontation Enters Critical Phase
Since June 13, Israel has been conducting a sustained military campaign against Iran, targeting nuclear installations, missile bases, senior military commanders, and nuclear scientists in what many see as a coordinated attempt to degrade Iran’s strategic capabilities.
Iran’s response has been swift and unprecedented: it has deployed ballistic missiles and armed drones deep into Israeli territory, marking the largest direct confrontation between the two nations in history.
Nuclear Treaty Exit Under Consideration
Following the U.S. strikes, Iranian sources revealed that Parliament is also preparing to debate Iran’s potential withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The proposal is being framed as a response to the illegal targeting of peaceful nuclear facilities by a foreign power.
The crisis, now expanding beyond military exchanges, is entering a phase that could reshape the geopolitical map of the Middle East, particularly if the Strait of Hormuz is closed—a move that would paralyse global oil trade and potentially trigger a broader regional war.
