Iran considers closing Strait of Hormuz amid escalating conflict with Israel
Tehran/Doha: Amid intensifying hostilities with Israel, Iran is reportedly considering the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil supplies. The development was reported by Iranian state broadcaster IRINN and highlighted in a detailed Al Jazeera explainer published on Saturday, citing Iranian lawmaker and former IRGC commander Esmail Kosari.
Kosari’s remarks come in the wake of Israel’s widespread airstrikes across Iran on June 13, which targeted military installations, residential buildings, and key nuclear facilities. The strikes reportedly killed at least 78 people, including Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Shamkhani. In retaliation, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones towards Israel early Saturday, causing fatalities and widespread alarm.
According to Al Jazeera, Kosari claimed Tehran may invoke closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea corridor bordered by Iran, Oman, and the UAE that links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Often referred to as the “world’s most important oil transit chokepoint,” the strait handles roughly 20% of global petroleum shipments.
Despite being 33 km (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point, the actual shipping lanes within the strait are considerably narrower, making them especially vulnerable to military threats. Any disruption could trigger a global oil shock, significantly raising energy prices even in countries not directly reliant on Gulf oil exports.
Al Jazeera noted that while threats to the strait have been made in the past, including during the 1980–88 Iran-Iraq War and again in 2019 amid US-Iran tensions, Hormuz has never been fully closed. However, the stakes now appear higher. A closure would not only choke regional economies but also risk drawing direct military retaliation from the United States, which maintains significant naval forces in the area.
Although Washington assisted Israel in intercepting Iranian missiles, US officials have clarified that the United States was not involved in Israel’s initial attack and has refrained from any direct military engagement with Iran. Iran, in turn, has not targeted US assets in the region, a sign, analysts say, that Tehran may be wary of escalating the conflict into a wider war.
Still, Kosari’s threat is being seen as a signal of the options Tehran may consider as tensions rise. Al Jazeera emphasised that the potential closure of Hormuz remains one of Iran’s most powerful strategic tools in response to external pressure, one that could have cascading effects on global trade, energy markets, and geopolitical stability.
The report also drew parallels to the Houthis’ ongoing attacks near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. While ships in that region have rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid conflict zones, no such alternative exists for maritime traffic leaving the Gulf.
As of now, the threat remains rhetorical, but the prospect of closing Hormuz adds a dangerous new dimension to the unfolding Iran-Israel crisis, and places global energy security on high alert.
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Railway exams postponed after pro-Kannada activists protests over exclusion of language
Bengaluru (PTI): South Western Railway on Tuesday abruptly postponed its recruitment examinations following protests by pro-Kannada organisations over the conduct of tests only in English and Hindi.
Members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike gathered outside exam centres in Bengaluru and Hubballi, demanding that the exams also be held in Kannada.
"The recruitment examinations have been postponed due to the protests and next dates would be announced later," a SWR official said.
Officials said the South Western Railway (SWR) had scheduled promotion examinations on Tuesday to fill 295 posts, including 194 posts of goods train manager.
Following the development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urged the Union Government to ensure that Kannada-speaking candidates are not subjected to "such injustice".
He also sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue necessary directions in this regard, demanding that the cancelled examinations be conducted at the earliest, with provision to write them in Kannada.
The morning exams were postponed after members of the pro-Kannada organisation staged protests near the exam centres in parts of the state including Bengaluru. The exams scheduled for the afternoon hours have also been postponed, he said.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has been opposing the move to drop the local language from the recruitment exams, stating it could prevent local candidates from appearing.
Welcoming the postponement, the organisation warned it would resume protests if the exams are held again without meeting its demands.
"Every state language must be respected. Candidates must be allowed to write exams in their respective state languages...Kannada in Karnataka, Tamil in Tamil Nadu, Marathi in Maharashtra, so that local candidates can have better opportunities to serve in higher positions," Hanumanthappa Ambigeri, a member of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, told reporters in Hubballi.
Taking to social media platform 'X', Siddaramaiah said the Railway Department has abruptly cancelled the promotion examinations scheduled to be held today for 194 Goods Train Manager posts in South Western Railway and 101 LDCE posts in the Hubballi division, placing Kannada employees in uncertainty.
This follows strong opposition from Kannadigas and Kannada organisations, he said.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that thousands of Kannada-speaking employees had already raised objections over the lack of provision to write the examination in the local language.
Despite peaceful protests, he alleged that the department failed to respond in time, cancelling the examinations at the last moment and leading to the present confusion.
"Had the department acted early and allowed the examination in Kannada, this situation could have been avoided. Instead, its indifferent approach and last-minute cancellation after protests intensified is condemnable," Siddaramaiah said.
The chief minister claimed that this is not the first instance, nor will it be the last, of Kannadigas facing injustice in central government examinations.
"Due to the continued imposition of Hindi in recruitment processes across central departments, Kannada candidates have long been subjected to unfair treatment," he alleged.
"It is unfortunate that this has occurred even when (state MP) V Somanna serves as Minister of State for Railways. I had expected that he would stand for Kannadigas and address this injustice, but that expectation has not been fulfilled. He must move beyond words and act in the interest of Karnataka," he said.
Siddaramaiah said that Kannadigas have already experienced the adverse impact of the Centre's preference for Hindi and neglect of regional languages. Restricting central examinations to Hindi and English is unacceptable, he said.
"India is a union of states formed on linguistic foundations. We do not oppose Hindi, but we will not accept its imposition over Kannada. Kannadigas are not seeking employment or promotion as charity, but asserting their right in the language they were educated in," he added.
