Iran Declares Strait of Hormuz Closed, Warns Ships to Stay Away

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, a move that significantly escalates tensions in the Gulf and raises fresh concerns over global energy supplies and maritime security.

The announcement was made early Sunday through a statement published by the IRGC and carried by Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

According to the IRGC, the decision followed an incident in which its naval forces fired warning shots at a vessel that allegedly attempted to transit the strategic waterway through what it described as an unauthorised route.

Iranian authorities accused several vessels of ignoring previously issued navigation warnings and blamed what they called "outside interference" by foreign powers for the incident.

"Given the insecurity created by this unlawful foreign interference, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until further notice and until U.S. interference in the region ends," the statement said.

The IRGC added that no commercial vessel or naval craft would be permitted to pass through the waterway during the closure.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors, serving as the primary transit route for a significant share of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Any disruption to shipping through the narrow passage has the potential to affect international energy markets and global trade.

The announcement comes after the United States demanded that Iran publicly guarantee the safety of commercial shipping through the strait and ensure that all navigation channels remain open without restrictions or transit charges.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington and Tehran had agreed to continue diplomatic talks despite the latest escalation in hostilities, while also declaring an end to an earlier ceasefire arrangement.

There was no immediate indication from international maritime authorities on the practical impact of Iran's declaration, and it remained unclear whether commercial shipping had been completely halted at the time of the announcement.