July 18, 2025
Mines were loaded last month, raising fears of a blockade and it would have severely harmed global commerce
Rubio says a move to close the strait will be a massive escalation that will merit a response from the United States and others
Analyst says current retaliation unlikely to disrupt global oil flows
While Israel and Iran have targeted elements of each other's energy infrastructure, there has been no significant disruption to maritime activity in the region so far
The nation has long used the threat of closing the Strait, through which around 20 percent of global oil and gas demand flows
