Trump’s Dangerous Gambling: What are the Consequences of Closing the Strait of Hormuz?

Oil has become a key factor in US President Donald Trump’s consideration of a possible military strike on Iran, according to Energy Press. The main fear in Washington is that Tehran could follow through on its threats to close the Strait of Hormuz or target oil fields and infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, which would severely damage US allies in the region such as Saudi Arabia.

Trump’s Most Dangerous Gambling
Many have described Trump’s action today, attacking three Iranian nuclear sites, as a “dangerous gamble” because of its consequences, including closing the Strait of Hormuz; because this action could turn into a war of attrition for the United States, a war that the country’s public opinion is strongly opposed to.
Closing the Strait of Hormuz a Threat to China’s Energy Security
The consequences of closing the Strait of Hormuz due to the US’s aggressive attack on Iran will not be limited to the Persian Gulf countries. Foreign strategic experts say that any blocking or disruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will have a significant global and regional impact on the energy security of East Asian countries such as China and India. It is worth noting that a large part of Iran’s oil is exported to China, so the greatest impact will be on this country.
China, as a trading partner and the largest buyer of Iran’s oil, has not played a significant role in these tensions to defend Iran so far, and the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz would severely undermine Beijing’s energy security. Therefore, there may be pressure on Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz from this country and other allies; countries that seem to only step in if their interests are threatened.