Iran’s parliament, the Majlis, voted on Sunday to approve a motion calling for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, in response to U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—carried out early Sunday morning.
Ismaeil Kowsari, a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, stated: “The parliament has come to the conclusion that it should close the Hormuz Strait.” However, he clarified that the final decision must be made by the country’s Supreme National Security Council and ultimately approved by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most vital oil transit chokepoints—is a powerful lever in Iran’s strategic arsenal. More than 20% of the global oil trade passes through the strait, much of it destined for Europe. A shutdown, even temporary, could lead to a dramatic surge in oil prices and have significant economic ramifications, particularly for export-dependent economies.
In an interview on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded to the developments by urging China—one of Iran’s key oil customers—to intervene diplomatically. Rubio called the proposed move a serious “escalation” and warned it could trigger a strong U.S. response. He added that such action would be “economic suicide” for Iran and would damage other countries’ economies more severely than it would hurt the United States.
Iran, anticipating greater reliance on land-based alternatives, has recently launched a direct overland train route to China through Central Asia. The new corridor reduces shipping times from 30 days via sea to 15 days over land, a move seen as part of Tehran’s strategy to insulate itself from maritime vulnerabilities.
As of now, it remains unclear whether the Supreme National Security Council intends to take up the motion or whether there is sufficient political momentum within the body to approve it.