Iran’s parliament escalated tensions by endorsing a Hormuz closure following U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear sites. Iranian state media confirmed lawmakers reached consensus on the move, though the decision still rests with Ayatollah Khamenei and the Supreme National Security Council. The Hormuz closure threatens to choke off about 20% of global seaborne oil shipments through this narrow waterway.
Washington executed Operation Midnight Hammer, striking Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said it aimed “to ‘neutralize’ Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon.” President Trump hailed the strikes as “a spectacular military success,” declaring the nuclear facilities were “completely and totally obliterated.”
As Iran debates the closure, Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China to intervene. He warned that “it will be economic suicide for them,” underscoring the strait’s global importance. Rubio added that Iran’s move “will hurt other countries’ economies a lot worse than ours.”
Iran’s brinkmanship reveals the regime’s willingness to gamble with international stability. The prospect of a Hormuz closure demonstrates that diplomacy alone cannot restrain Tehran’s ambition. It demands a firm U.S. response and cooperation with allies to safeguard vital trade routes.
The world must stand ready. As Rubio emphasized, “we retain options to deal with that,” and the U.S. cannot allow Iran to hold global energy markets hostage.
