Iran announces closure of Strait of Hormuz after US strikes

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has announced the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all maritime traffic, including oil tankers and commercial vessels, citing insecurity following US strikes on southern Iran.

In a statement, cited by Mehr, the command said that “due to insecurity in the region, the Strait of Hormuz is closed to the transit of all types of vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships,” adding that any movement through the waterway would be targeted.

The statement rejected US assertions that shipping traffic was continuing through the strategic passage.

It also warned that Iran’s Armed Forces would deliver “a crushing and decisive response to any aggression and mischief by the invading and terrorist U.S. army in the region.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global shipping route for oil and gas exports, and any disruption is likely to have significant implications for international energy markets and regional security.

By Tamilla Hasanova