Iranian state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced in the early hours of Sunday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, after firing warning shots at a vessel it said had attempted to transit through an unauthorized shipping lane.
According to the reports, citing the IRGC Navy, the vessel was forced to stop after trying to pass through a route that had not been approved. The force added that no ships would be permitted to transit the strait during the announced closure.
The IRGC Navy said the closure would remain in effect until what it described as “U.S. intervention in the region” comes to an end, warning that any attempt to exploit the situation or take further escalatory measures would be met with “a severe response.”
The announcement comes as regional and international diplomatic efforts continue to ensure safe navigation through one of the world’s most strategically important maritime energy corridors. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi discussed arrangements aimed at guaranteeing the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz as part of broader efforts to ease tensions.
The United States is seeking a public Iranian commitment to guarantee freedom of navigation and refrain from targeting commercial shipping, while Oman is hosting talks involving various parties in an effort to reach arrangements to safeguard maritime security in the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global oil and natural gas exports. Any disruption to traffic through the waterway is therefore a major concern for global markets and energy prices.
Tensions have escalated following attacks on commercial vessels in the region, which were followed by exchanges of strikes and threats between Iran and the United States, raising fears of a broader confrontation and its potential impact on global trade.
As the military escalation continues, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains a central issue in ongoing negotiations, while shipping companies and global energy markets closely monitor developments.
Reuters
