TEHRAN — Iran announced a temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, restricting passage through one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes amid heightened military tensions in the region, according to statements from Iranian military authorities.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said the waterway would remain closed until further notice, citing what it described as security concerns and foreign military activity in the area. The force said the decision followed an incident involving a vessel that it accused of violating navigation instructions and using an unauthorized route.
Iranian authorities did not provide details identifying the vessel involved. The IRGC Navy said the ship had disabled its tracking systems and was struck after warnings were ignored, but those claims could not be independently verified.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is a critical maritime corridor through which a significant share of global oil shipments pass. Any sustained disruption to traffic through the waterway has the potential to affect energy markets and international shipping.
The announcement came as Iran and the United States remained in a dispute over maritime security and military operations in the region. Iran has said foreign interference threatened navigation safety, while U.S. officials have maintained that the waterway should remain open for international commerce.
Oil prices rose following reports of the closure announcement, with market participants monitoring whether commercial vessels could continue transiting the strait. Shipping activity in the area declined, according to market reports, although the extent of the disruption remained unclear.
The latest announcement follows previous Iranian statements regarding restrictions on Strait of Hormuz traffic during periods of regional tension. In earlier incidents, Iranian officials have denied some reports of a complete closure and said commercial transit was continuing under certain conditions.
U.S. officials and regional governments have not confirmed that all maritime traffic through the strait has stopped. Washington has said it is monitoring the situation and has continued to emphasize freedom of navigation in the waterway.
As of Monday, Iranian authorities had not announced a timetable for reopening the strait, and international shipping operators were awaiting further guidance on transit conditions.
