In his first public statement as Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei warned that Strait of Hormuz could be used as a strategic pressure point in response to escalating regional tensions, raising fears of a major disruption to global energy supplies.

Khamenei indicated that Tehran may consider restricting passage through the narrow waterway—one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes—as a means of political and economic leverage. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making any threat to its security a major concern for global markets.

The warning comes amid a rapidly escalating regional crisis. Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes across Beirut, significantly heightening tensions across the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that the conflict has triggered what it described as a “historic disruption” in global oil supply, warning that the scale of the shock could surpass previous crises if the situation continues to deteriorate.

The ripple effects are already being felt across the region. Iraq temporarily halted operations at all of its oil export terminals after strikes reportedly targeted oil tankers, while Oman began evacuating vessels from a key oil export terminal amid rising security concerns.

Global energy markets reacted immediately. Brent Crude Oil futures surged toward $100 per barrel, reflecting growing anxiety that a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz could choke off a significant portion of the world’s oil supply.