Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced early Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed to all vessel traffic, including oil tankers and commercial ships, following what it described as fresh U.S. military aggression, according to Iranian state media.
In a statement carried by state media, Iran’s top military command said the strategic waterway would no longer be open to maritime transit due to what it called growing insecurity in the region.
Iranian state media reported that the headquarters warned “any traffic will be targeted” and quoted the statement as saying: “From this moment, due to insecurity in the region, the Strait of Hormuz is declared closed to the passage of all vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, and any traffic will be targeted.”
The announcement came after the United States launched a new round of strikes against targets in Iran, further escalating tensions between the two countries. The closure marks a significant development in the conflict, as the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes, handling a substantial share of global oil and gas exports.
Iranian authorities said the measure was ordered in response to the latest U.S. attacks and warned that any vessel attempting to transit the strait would be considered a target.
The move is expected to raise concerns across global energy markets and among major shipping operators that rely on the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.