The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes and before the war carried around a fifth of global oil supply and key liquefied natural gas exports from the Gulf.
Israel said on Thursday that it had killed Commodore Alireza Tangsiri, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN).
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Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said Tangsiri had been killed in a "precise and lethal operation" along with other senior naval commanders in an overnight strike.
"The man who was directly responsible for the terrorist operation of mining and blocking the Strait of Hormuz to shipping was blown up and eliminated," Katz claimed.
Katz said Tangsiri was responsible for military operations in the key waterway that has blocked cargo ships from transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
He said the strike served as a “clear message” to senior Iranian military officials that Israel would hunt them down.
Since the start of the war on 28 February, Israel has announced the killings of several top Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the country’s security chief, Ali Larijani.
The head of the Basij paramilitary forces, Brigadier General Gholamreza Soleimani, and Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib have also been killed.
There has been no confirmation of Tangsiri’s death from Tehran.
Key waterway
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes and before the war carried around a fifth of global oil supply and key liquefied natural gas exports from the Gulf.
Iran has effectively closed the strait since the start of the war, prompting US President Donald Trump to appeal to allies to assemble a naval force to keep it open.
That appeal has been largely rebuffed by countries reluctant to get involved in the war.
In a social media post earlier on Thursday, Trump again slammed NATO allies for doing "absolutely nothing" to support the US war effort, warning "never forget this very important point in time."
Oil prices have already soared since to above $100 (€86) a barrel. Analysts warn it could trade in the range of $150 to $200 (€129-173) if the conflict broadens in intensity and length.