Iran Warns of Full Strait of Hormuz Closure in Response to US Sanctions

A former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stark warning over the latest round of American sanctions, suggesting that Tehran could respond by completely shutting down the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking as a military analyst, Hossein Kanani Moghaddam outlined three potential courses of action for Iran. The first would involve a direct military response to US vessels escorting ships in the region, which he claims are encircling Iranian vessels. The second, and more severe, option would be the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, effectively stopping all oil and gas traffic through the critical waterway.

A third possibility, he suggested, is that US allies and other nations dependent on the region's energy exports could pressure Washington to back down and accept Iran's proposals.

Moghaddam was emphatic that the sanctions would not go unanswered. He asserted that Iran possesses the deterrent capabilities to close the strait and prevent even a single drop of oil from leaving. "If we cannot export oil, no one else will be able to export it either," he said, adding that this would severely impact the regional and global economy.

The warning comes after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened Iran with an "economic D-Day," announcing a new wave of sanctions designed to further isolate the country. Moghaddam warned that such a closure could worsen the energy crisis, potentially driving US gasoline prices from around five dollars a gallon to as high as seven or eight dollars.