Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander has threatened to “burn any ship” attempting to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz, sharply escalating tensions in one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints amid the ongoing regional crisis.
General Sardar Jabari of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued the warning Monday in a statement published on the force’s Telegram channel, following Tehran’s announcement that it had moved to close the waterway in response to what it described as a joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran.
“We will burn any ship that tries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” Jabari said. He added that Iranian forces would also target oil pipelines and vowed that “not a single drop of oil will leave the region,” predicting global oil prices could surge to $200 in the coming days.
The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important oil transit route, linking major Gulf producers including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Roughly a fifth of global oil consumption typically passes through the narrow waterway, making any disruption a major concern for energy markets and global trade.
However, the US military pushed back on Iranian claims. According to Fox News, the United States Central Command said the Strait of Hormuz remained open despite statements from Iranian officials suggesting it had been shut. The command did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for additional comment.
Fuel tanker reported ablaze after drone strike
In a related development, Iranian news agencies quoted the IRGC as saying a fuel tanker identified as Athi Nova, sailing under the Honduran flag, caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after being targeted by two drones.
An IRGC statement claimed the vessel was operating “in coordination with the United States.” An Iranian military spokesperson stopped short of explicitly confirming that Iranian drones carried out the strike but referenced the incident during a state television briefing on IRGC military operations in the Gulf.
Iranian media reports suggested the tanker had been refueling US Navy vessels in the region, though independent verification of that claim was not immediately available.
Shipping industry alarms
The escalating threats have begun to ripple through global shipping. Jeremy Nixon, chief executive of Ocean Network Express, said container ships account for roughly 100 of the approximately 750 vessels currently affected by the situation around the Strait of Hormuz.
He warned that about 10 percent of the global container ship fleet is now effectively stuck due to the unfolding crisis, underscoring the potential for significant disruption to international supply chains if tensions continue to rise.
The developments come as regional and global powers closely monitor the security of maritime routes in the Gulf, with energy markets and shipping companies bracing for further volatility in the days ahead.
