Iran’s central military command has officially declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic, citing alleged violations by the United States and Israel of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and related ceasefire arrangements, according to Iranian state media reports.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s top military command, said the decision was taken in response to what it described as “the explicit breach of the first clause of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding by the United States” and the “continuous and ongoing violations of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon by the Zionist regime.”
The announcement marked a significant escalation in regional tensions and raises concerns over the security of one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. The Strait of Hormuz serves as a key route for global oil and gas shipments, with a substantial share of the world’s energy supplies passing through the narrow waterway.
Shortly after the declaration, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy issued a stern warning to all commercial and military vessels. According to a statement carried by an Iranian media outlet, the IRGC Navy warned ships not to approach the Strait of Hormuz, stating that their safety could be jeopardised if they ignored the directive.
Notably, the development came just days after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump electronically signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a Pakistan-brokered agreement aimed at ending hostilities and establishing a framework for sanctions relief, maritime security and oversight of Iran’s nuclear programme.
WHAT CLAUSE 1 OF THE ISLAMABAD MoU SAYS
▪ Iran, the United States and their allies agree to the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
▪ Both sides undertake not to initiate any war or military operation against each other in the future.
▪ The parties commit to refraining from the threat or use of force against one another.
▪ The agreement calls for ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.
▪ A final agreement is to formally confirm the permanent end of the war and hostilities on all fronts.
Read Memorandum of Understanding: