Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Indefinitely, Vessels Told to Wait

Iran has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic for an unspecified period amid heightened tensions with the United States. In a statement uploaded to the X platform on Thursday, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority of Iran stated the closure was implemented following an escalation triggered by US military actions and the latest announcement from the Iranian armed forces. “Due to tensions provoked by aggressive US forces and the latest announcement by the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic, the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed,” the authority said. The authority also requested parties that have obtained transit permits to be patient and await further notification regarding the operation of the shipping lane. The announcement came a day after US President Donald Trump accused Iran of delaying negotiations. He also stated his intention to launch a major attack on Iran. The latest tensions are a continuation of the conflict that erupted on 28 February, when the US and Israel launched strikes against a number of targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and killing civilians. Iran subsequently retaliated by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East. The two conflicting nations had previously announced a ceasefire on 7 April. However, subsequent talks held in Islamabad did not produce a breakthrough for resolving the conflict.