Jerusalem, March 19, 2026 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran is attempting to blackmail the world by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, calling the move unsustainable. “Iran is trying to blackmail the world by closing the Strait of Hormuz; it won’t work,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel is helping in its own way the American effort to open the strait.
The remarks come amid ongoing international efforts to safeguard sea lanes through the Persian Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
