To close the Strait of Hormuz is one of our alternatives to respond to our enemies, says Behnam Saeedi, member of the Iranian parliament's national security committee, according to the partially state-owned news agency Mehr.
Around a fifth of all the world's oil traffic passes through the narrow waters between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. In addition, significant amounts of gas are transported daily through the strait, which is considered one of the most important in the world for the global energy supply.
Since Israel attacked Iran on Friday, analysts have warned that Iran may close the Strait of Hormuz and block the shipping lane. Also on Saturday, the Iranian state news agency Irinn reported that Iran is "considering" doing just that.
The message made several shipping companies change their routes to avoid Iranian waters.
