Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has announced that the strategically important Strait of Hormuz will remain closed for the time being.
In a televised address, he said the decision would be maintained as a tactic to pressure Iran’s adversaries in the context of growing pressure on the country and the ongoing conflict, Al Jazeera reported.
In his speech, he called for national unity and said that in the current situation, it is necessary to remain united to protect the country’s interests. According to him, the decision to close the Strait of Hormuz is being considered a response to military and political pressure directed against Iran.
Meanwhile, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the United States is not yet ready to provide US military security for oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with CNBC, he said that while such an initiative is possible, it cannot be implemented immediately.
According to Wright, the current US military focus is primarily on weakening Iran’s offensive military capabilities and the infrastructure that supports those capabilities.
Analysts believe that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, considered one of the world’s most important energy transport routes, is likely to increase pressure on oil supply and prices in the international market.