The Iranian Parliament deems it necessary to close the Strait of Hormuz.

One of Iran's options: block the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strait that connects the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, and it is the only waterway into the Persian Gulf. The northern shore is Iran with the port of Abbas. The southern shore is Oman's exclave, the Musandam Province, and its northern end, the Sarma Islands, while the south is the United Arab Emirates. Near the center of the strait, closer to Iran, there is a large island called Qeshm Island, which belongs to Iran. Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the busiest waterways in the world.

One third of the world's liquefied natural gas and nearly 20% of global oil consumption pass through the strait, making it a strategically important location for international trade.

Strategic Value

The Strait of Hormuz can be considered the "valve [throat] of the oil depot" in the Middle East region. Since the discovery of oil in the Middle East, hundreds of oil tankers pass through here every day to transport oil by sea out of the Middle East. More than 750 million tons of oil destined for all parts of the world pass through the Strait of Hormuz each year, accounting for 90% of the total oil exports from the Gulf region, one fifth of the global oil production, and one third of the global oil trade volume. Therefore, the maritime security of this strait is extremely important for the impact and development of the global economy.

Petroleum Trade

A 2007 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies pointed out that 17 million barrels flow out of the Persian Gulf every day, but the oil passing through the strait accounts for approximately 40% of the world's traded oil.

According to a 2011 report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, an average of 14 oil tankers enter and exit the Persian Gulf daily, carrying 17 million barrels (2.7 million cubic meters) of crude oil through the strait. It is said that this accounts for 35% of the world's seaborne oil exports and 20% of the global oil trading volume. The report indicates that more than 85% of these crude oil exports come from Asian markets, with Japan, India, South Korea, and China being the largest destinations.

Ismail Kousari, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament, stated on Sunday that the Iranian Parliament deems it necessary to close the Strait of Hormuz, but the final decision must be approved by the National Security Council.

Kousari told Press TV in an interview, "The parliament has concluded that the Strait of Hormuz should be closed, but the final decision will be made by the National Security Council."

On Sunday night, the United States struck three nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordo, and Isfahan, Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the strikes aimed to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities. Tehran must agree to "end this war," or Iran will face even more severe consequences.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi commented on the U.S. attack, saying, "The door to diplomacy should always remain open, but that is not the case now." The U.S. attack has already drawn negative reactions internationally. Russia strongly condemned the U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, as these attacks severely violate international law, the United Nations Charter, and resolutions of the UN Security Council. Moscow expects an honest response from the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding the incident. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the U.S. strike escalates the danger in the region and poses a direct threat to international peace and security.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1834961626255360/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the views of the author.