Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Indefinitely

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has officially announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for an unspecified period. The drastic decision was taken after a vessel accused of ignoring sailing instructions was stopped by force following warning shots. According to a statement cited by the official IRNA news agency on Sunday (12/7), the IRGC revealed that several ships were detected attempting to cross an unauthorised lane. Despite repeated warnings to change course and use approved routes, the vessels remained defiant. The IRGC also highlighted the actions of one particular ship that deliberately shut down its operating system. This act was deemed highly dangerous to the security of international shipping in the strategic waterway. Consequently, the vessel was hit by warning shots before finally being halted by Iranian authorities. The closure of the world’s energy trade route was not solely triggered by technical shipping incidents. The IRGC stressed that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until further notice and until what it called American intervention in the region ends completely. ‘No ship will be allowed to pass,’ the IRGC’s official statement asserted. Furthermore, Iran warned that any new attacks on its sovereignty would be met with a far harsher response. This threat includes potential strikes against other ‘enemy’ bases scattered across the Middle East region. The IRGC blamed ‘illegal foreign interference’ as the root cause of the incident. Tehran openly accused the United States, Israel, and countries hosting US military bases of being responsible for all consequences should the escalation continue. The latest conflict was triggered by a dispute over commercial shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, shattering fragile hopes for peace. It was reported that the United States had struck several strategic targets within Iranian territory. In retaliation, Tehran launched attacks on various US assets in the region, ultimately leading to the total closure of one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes.