Iran Can Close Strait of Hormuz, Top Commander Warns

April 10, 2024

2 min read

The warning comes amidst heightened regional tensions following suspected Israeli airstrikes on an Iranian consulate in Syria that killed seven IRCG officers, including two top commanders, on April 1

Tensions are escalating between Iran and Israel as the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) navy, Alireza Tangsiri, warned that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz if it deems Israel's presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) a threat.

The warning comes amidst heightened regional tensions following suspected Israeli airstrikes on an Iranian consulate in Syria that killed seven IRCG officers, including two top commanders, on April 1.

"We do not get hit without striking back," he said. "But we are also not hasty in our retaliation."

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global oil chokepoint, with an estimated 20.5 million barrels of crude oil passing through it daily.

The closure of the strait would significantly impact the global oil market.

"We can close the Hormuz Strait but are not doing so," Tangsiri said. "However, if the enemy comes to disrupt us, we will review our policy."

The UAE, located across the Persian Gulf from Iran, established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020, a move seen as a major shift in regional politics.

While the UAE maintains positive relations with Iran, Tangsiri expressed suspicion over Israel's motives in the UAE.

"We know that the Zionists were not brought to the UAE for economic purposes but rather for security and military work," he said, adding, "This is a threat to us and should not happen,"

Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the April 1 attack, but some Israeli officials said that the targeted building housed the IRGC Quds Force headquarters and was a "legitimate target."

The Israeli military also stopped allowing leaves for combat units on Thursday due to worries about Iran's potential retaliatory attack.

The attack is seen as a major strike on Iranian targets in Syria, raising regional tensions.

Iran's network of proxies in the region, known as "the axis of resistance," has engaged in skirmishes with Israel and launched attacks on US forces and bases across the Middle East since October.