Iran's Supreme National Security Council will make the final decision about whether the Strait of Hormuz is closed following U.S. airstrikes, Press TV reported on Sunday. The move was reportedly supported by the Iranian parliament.

Iran has used the threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, which carries around 20% of the global oil and natural gas demand, for years as a means of fending off Western pressure, which is at its height now after the U.S. strike on its nuclear facilities overnight.

The decision is still not final, and the fact that the parliament has adopted a law to this effect was not reported in an official manner.

Esmail Kosari, a member of Parliament's National Security Commission, was quoted in other Iranian media saying: "For the moment, [the parliament] has come to the conclusion that we should close Strait of Hormuz. But the Supreme National Security Council is responsible for the final decision."

Kosari is also the Revolutionary Guards commander. He had told the Young Journalist Club earlier that day, "closing the Strait" was on the agenda, and would be "done whenever necessary".

Abbas Araqchi, the Foreign Minister of Iran, dodged the question when asked about the possibility that Tehran might close the waterway on Sunday. He said: "Iran has a variety of options."

The strait is located between Oman, Iran and connects the Gulf of Oman in the south with the Arabian Sea to the north.

The shipping lane is only 2 miles wide (3 km) in each direction. It's 21 miles wide (33 km). (Reporting and editing by Dubai Newsroom, Giles Elgood and Hugh Lawson)

(source: Reuters)