The Middle East is plunging into the unknown. Following the elimination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Israeli-American raids last Saturday, Tehran activated the ultimate economic weapon: the closure of the Strait of Hormuz .

A direct threat to maritime traffic

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has hardened its stance through Ebrahim Jabari, advisor to the commander-in-chief. He was unequivocal: any ship attempting to force its way through will be "burned to a crisp." This scorched-earth strategy doesn't stop at sea, as regional oil pipelines are now declared targets for completely paralyzing exports.

"The price of a barrel will reach $200 in the coming days," predicted Ebrahim Jabari.

Global markets in shock

Since the Strait of Hormuz is the transit point for 20% of the world's oil , the impact on the global economy was immediate:

1. Oil: Sharp price increase starting Monday morning.
2. Natural gas: Prices exploded by +50% in Europe and +40% in Asia , following the shutdown of QatarEnergy production after attacks on its sites.
3. Infrastructure: Saudi Arabia has already been targeted by a drone attack against the giant Ras Tanura refinery, illustrating the fragility of the supply chain.

Washington's response

Faced with this major crisis scenario, the United States is attempting to stabilize market sentiment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that emergency measures would take effect on Tuesday. While the exact nature of these interventions remains confidential, the US administration claims to have anticipated this energy standoff.

In summary

What began as a regional geopolitical crisis has morphed into a global economic shock . Between the collapse of the Iranian state leadership and the blockade of the world's most strategic oil artery, the escalation now appears to be spiraling out of control.