UK maritime agency confirms Strait of Hormuz closure following IRGC order

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) has confirmed reports that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane in the Persian Gulf, has been closed amid escalating military tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

According to UKMTO, several vessels operating in the region reported, via Channel 16 maritime radio, that the strait is no longer navigable. “UKMTO continues to monitor the maritime security situation amid significant military activity in

the region and has received multiple reports from Company Security Officers (CSOs) of vessels operating in the Arabian Gulf stating that VHF Channel 16 broadcasts have claimed that the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) has been closed. These reports cannot be independently verified at this time,” the centre said in a statement.

Earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued orders prohibiting ships from crossing the strait, with messages broadcast over VHF radio, Al Jazeera reported. Vessel tracking services indicate a significant reduction in traffic both entering and exiting the strait.

There was no immediate confirmation from Iran, Reuters reports. The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical oil export route, connecting major Gulf producers including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

In a related advisory, the US Department of Transportation urged commercial vessels to avoid the Gulf following recent attacks on Iran. The department’s Maritime Administration warned that the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea are experiencing “significant military activity,” and vessels should “keep clear of this area if possible.”

US-flagged, owned, or crewed ships were also advised to maintain a distance of at least 30 nautical miles (approximately 56 km) from any US military vessel to avoid being mistaken for a threat.

Separately, the Qatari Ministry of Transport announced that maritime navigation has been temporarily suspended in Qatari waters.