ALERT: Iran’s Parliament Votes To CLOSE THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian military action is one of my bright red lines.
Earlier today, the Iranian Parliament voted to close the Strait of Hormuz:
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 leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The parliament vote merely advises him of the option to pursue.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point, the strait is about 21 miles wide, with two shipping lanes two miles wide in each direction.
Around 20 percent of global oil trade passes through the Strait. Some experts have said that were Iran 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.
During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Iran targeted oil tankers and oil loading facilities. These actions did not fully block the strait but caused sharp increases in shipping insurance premiums and delayed maritime traffic.
(Source)
As I’ve bolded above, this is merely a first step.
by cmartenson 
