Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, IRGC Stops Ship Ignoring Sailing Instructions

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy of Iran has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for an unspecified period after a ship accused of ignoring sailing instructions was stopped following warning shots. In a statement quoted by the official IRNA news agency on Sunday (12/7/2026), the IRGC said a number of vessels attempted to cross an unauthorised lane despite repeated warnings to change course and use approved routes. The IRGC also stated that one ship switched off its operating system, endangering navigational safety. According to the IRGC, the vessel was hit by warning shots before finally being stopped. The IRGC stressed that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until further notice and until American intervention in the region ends. ‘No ships will be allowed to pass,’ the IRGC statement said. The IRGC also warned that any new attack on Iran would be met with a harsher response, including strikes on other ‘enemy’ bases in the region. Additionally, the IRGC blamed what it called ‘illegal foreign interference’ for the incident. Iran also held the United States, Israel, and countries hosting US military bases responsible for all consequences if the escalation continues. Last June, Tehran and Washington signed a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding to end the war that broke out in late February and pave the way for a long-term peace agreement. The memorandum included an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, the lifting of the US naval blockade against Iran, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the two countries launched fresh attacks on each other this week over commercial shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States struck a number of targets in Iran, while Tehran retaliated by attacking US assets in various regions.