Following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday, the Iranian Parliament has voted in support of closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints, according to media reports.

Any final decision on retaliation, however, will rest with the country’s Supreme National Security Council and le

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Around 20 percent of global oil trade passes through the Strait. Some experts have said that if Iran were to cut off access to the Strait, it could spike oil prices by 30 to 50 percent immediately, with gas prices likewise rising by as much as $5 per gallon.

    • protist@mander.xyz
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      3 days ago

      The US Navy can try their very best to keep that strait open, but they simply cannot stop 100% of commercial vessels from being attacked when there are hostile groups on both sides of the strait with significant missile capabilities. US naval vessels themselves will become targets, and there would likely be some costly US losses. Regardless, the increased risk of traversing the strait will have an immediate impact on oil prices, even if no ships are actually blocked

      • tal@lemmy.today
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        3 days ago

        US naval vessels themselves will become targets

        They already have been the target of missiles launched by the Houthis provided by Iran. Thus far, missile defenses have stopped them.

        I suppose that Iran probably has some ability to ramp up how many anti-ship missiles they’re throwing, but the US also has the ability to drastically ramp up the number of bombs being dropped on Iran; I doubt that climbing the escalation ladder is going to be advantageous to Iran.