by
International Desk, June 15, 2025 : The Middle East has been gripped by escalating tensions as Iran and Israel engage in a series of attacks and counterattacks. On Friday, Israel launched airstrikes targeting nuclear and military facilities in Tehran and other parts of Iran. In retaliation, Iran initiated a robust counteroffensive against Israel, which was followed by Israeli strikes on Iranian oil and energy infrastructure.
According to a report by Al Jazeera on Sunday (June 15), analysts suggest that Iran may close the Strait of Hormuz if Israel intensifies its attacks on the country’s oil and energy facilities. Sina Toosi, a senior analyst at the U.S.-based Center for International Policy, told Al Jazeera that shutting down the Strait of Hormuz could be Iran’s “ultimate response” to such escalations.
“This would be Iran’s maximum level of retaliation,” Toosi said in an interview with the outlet.
Iran has already indicated that it is actively considering closing the Strait, with state-run media IRINN reporting on Saturday that the government is deliberating the move. The Strait of Hormuz, the sole maritime passage into the Persian Gulf, is critical for global energy supplies. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply is transported through this route.
Toosi further noted that the situation has not yet reached the point of closing the Strait, but recent developments signal rising risks. “Today, Israel attacked a gas field in southern Iran, while reports suggest Iran struck energy facilities in Haifa, Israel,” he said. “If this cycle of tit-for-tat attacks on energy infrastructure continues, the entire Persian Gulf region’s energy supply could face serious disruptions.”
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is a vital chokepoint for oil exports from Gulf countries. Iran previously threatened to close the Strait in 2019 after the U.S. imposed stringent sanctions on its oil exports.
AI/MR
