Iran's Revolutionary Guard closes Strait of Hormuz indefinitely

Blockade announcement

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy issued the closure order early Sunday after several vessels attempted to transit through unauthorized routes despite repeated warnings to alter course and follow approved passages. The force said one ship switched off its systems and ignored navigation orders, endangering maritime security before warning fire struck and disabled the vessel.

The strategic waterway will remain shut indefinitely pending an end to American military interventions in the region, according to a statement carried by Iran's official IRNA news agency. The force added that no vessels would be permitted to transit the strait during this period.

Threats of retaliation

The Revolutionary Guard Navy warned that any new attack against Iran would be met with a forceful response and strikes on additional enemy bases across the region. The force blamed illegal foreign interference for the escalating tensions and held the United States, Israel, and countries hosting American military bases responsible for the consequences of any further escalation.

Ceasefire agreement

In June, Tehran and Washington signed a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war that began in late February and paving the way for a lasting peace agreement. The memorandum called for an immediate cessation of fighting on all fronts, the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iran, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the agreement, the two sides exchanged attacks this week over the passage of commercial traffic through the strait. The US struck targets in Iran, which responded by targeting US assets across the region.