Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Announces Closure of Strait of Hormuz to U.S., Israeli, and European

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stated that the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital maritime passages, will be closed to U.S., Israeli, European, and their allied vessels.

According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC confirmed that Iran has the right to control navigation through the Strait based on international law and wartime circumstances. The IRGC issued a statement declaring, "As previously stated, under international law and agreements, during times of war, the Islamic Republic of Iran has the right to control movement through the Strait of Hormuz."

The statement also warned that any ships from the United States, Israel, Europe, and their supporting nations seen in the Strait would be considered targets. Since the joint military operation by the U.S. and Israel against Iran last Saturday, shipping traffic in the Strait has already significantly decreased. This has led to a rapid increase in global oil prices and created serious concerns about instability in the global economy.

The Strait of Hormuz is recognized as a critical energy transport route through which a vast amount of global oil is transported daily. If tensions escalate further in this region, it could severely disrupt the international energy market and have a destabilizing impact on the global economy.