Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a veteran commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), issued a warning regarding the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports from the state-affiliated news agency IRNA, Zolqadr stated that Iran is prepared to further seal the Strait and block other strategic maritime passages if the United States continues its current naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Zolqadr emphasized that this potential escalation is a direct response to US naval activities. He further cautioned that any disruption to these critical shipping lanes would result in severe economic repercussions, specifically impacting global energy markets and US taxpayers. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint for global oil transit, and threats to close it have historically been used by Iranian officials to exert pressure on Western nations during periods of heightened geopolitical tension.

While the report cites the Iranian official’s perspective on the necessity of this response, it does not provide a corresponding statement from US officials regarding the alleged blockade or the potential for military escalation in the region. The report frames the potential closure as a defensive measure against external economic pressure, though it does not detail the specific nature of the US naval actions currently taking place at Iranian ports.