Iran's parliament votes to close Strait of Hormuz

Now in response to the U.S. air assaults against its nuclear facilities the Iranian parliament has voted in support of closing the Strait of Hormuz a crucial shipping lane for the world's daily oil and gas supply.

Lee Seung-jae reports.

The United States over the weekend attacked three key Iranian nuclear sites, with B-2 stealth bombers dropping more than a dozen "bunker-buster" bombs.

In response, Iran's parliament on Sunday endorsed a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz,.. a major global transit checkpoint.

According to Iran's state-run broadcaster Press TV on Sunday, the country's legislature reached a consensus to close the strait, with the final decision resting on the Supreme National Security Council and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Strait of Hormuz, which separates Iran and Oman, is a key gateway for oil shipments from Persian Gulf countries.

It's estimated that around 25 percent of the global crude oil supply and 20 percent of the liquefied natural gas supply pass through the strait.

South Korea, which is heavily reliant on crude from the Middle East, could be heavily impacted by the closure, as the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency analyzes that 99 percent of Middle Eastern crude oil coming to Korea passes through the strait.

Meanwhile, in an interview with NBC News on Sunday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said it would be "suicidal" for Iran, if they blocked off the major trade route.

Vance argued that Iran's entire economy runs through the strait, and such action would not only cause global disruption but also destroy their own economy.

Despite the direct U.S. involvement in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, Vance says Washington wants peace with Iran "in the context of them not having a nuclear weapons program."

Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.