Iran Closes Hormuz Strait Again, This Time Over Ship Passing Without Permit

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz. The closure was announced after they fired warning shots at a ship they claimed was using an unauthorised route.

According to AFP, the Strait of Hormuz was closed on Sunday (12/7/2026) local time. In a statement broadcast by state news agency IRNA, the Revolutionary Guard said the vessel was hit by warning shots and stopped. They also stated the ship repeatedly ignored instructions to use the approved shipping corridor.

“Following this incident, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until further notice and until the end of American intervention in the region. No ships will be allowed to pass,” the Iranian Revolutionary Guard asserted.

The Revolutionary Guard also stated they would target ‘new enemy bases in the region’ if any new military action is directed against them.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz further complicates efforts for negotiations between the US and Iran, after both sides engaged in mutual attacks and exchanged threats in recent days. Washington had previously given Tehran a deadline until Saturday to cease firing on commercial vessels berthed in Hormuz and to formally acknowledge that the waterway is open.

One of the main obstacles to a final agreement is the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran insists on controlling shipping in the waterway, while Washington demands unrestricted navigation.