By: Franklin Asare-Donkoh
Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr. Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, says the Iranian government cannot solely shut the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for what it suffered from the United States government.
According to Mr. Edudzi Tamakloe, there are too many interests at stake when it comes to issues concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), nearly 20 million barrels of oil, about one-fifth of daily global production, flow through the strait every day.
Commenting on the current tension between Israel and Iran, and the U.S. air strikes, on TV3’s current affairs program ‘News Day’ on Monday, June 23, 2025, the NPA CEO explained that Oman is on one side of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran is on the other. He noted that Oman would not permit a shutdown because of the financial benefits it derives from the passage of that route, as ships and other vessels pay to use its end.
He maintained that the financial incentives for passage, derived from tolls and services, align Oman’s interests with the global trade flow.
“Oman’s foreign policy is generally characterised by neutrality and mediation, further reducing the likelihood of its cooperation in any blockade,” Mr. Edudzi Tamakloe added.
The NPA CEO asserted that Iran would face overwhelming international opposition if it attempted to close the vital Strait of Hormuz unilaterally.
Mr. Tamakloe emphasised the significant geopolitical and economic interests at stake, suggesting a full-scale closure is highly improbable.
The Iranian government has vowed a decisive response, with its parliament backing a measure to close the critical shipping route in response to U.S. airstrikes on nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is particularly important because it provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean for the supply of huge volumes of oil produced in that region to several parts of the world.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, is geographically bordered by Iran on one side and Oman on the other.
