Iran has claimed « complete control » over the Strait of Hormuz as Britain is warned of « significant consequences » on the oil and gas industries. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy official Mohammad Akbarzadeh said: « Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is under the complete control of the Islamic Republic’s Navy. »
The strait, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints – a narrow passage through which a significant share of global shipments must pass. It’s estimated that about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies have to travel through the 50-mile-wide strait, which is where experts say the problems will lie for Britain.
Dr Jonathan Owens, a supply chain expert and Senior Lecturer in Operations Management at the University of Salford, explained that disruption to the Strait of Hormuz will drive oil and gas prices up, affecting a variety of industries.
He said: « For the United Kingdom, the consequences of any sustained disruption could be significant. Although the UK imports oil and liquefied natural gas from a variety of sources, global energy markets are interconnected.
« If supplies through the Strait of Hormuz are reduced, competition for alternative sources intensifies, driving up prices worldwide.
« Higher energy costs would affect transportation, manufacturing, and food production, placing additional strain on UK supply chains already challenged by post-pandemic adjustments and new trading arrangements. »
This comes after Iran said it will bomb any tankers trying to pass through, and won’t let « a single drop of oil » leave the region after closing the critically important route.
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IRGC Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabbari said: « The Strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze. »
He added that Iran would strike oil pipelines and infrastructure across the Middle East to block exports.
« We will also attack oil pipelines and will not allow a single drop of oil to leave the region, » he said, predicting that « oil prices will reach $200 in the coming days ».
He added: « The stability of the Strait of Hormuz is therefore not just a Middle Eastern concern but a matter of economic security for countries like the United Kingdom, whose supply chains depend on predictable and secure international trade routes. »
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