Iran declares Strait of Hormuz closed, threatens ships after U.S. attacks

Iran has declared a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, vowing to target any vessel attempting to pass through the vital waterway in response to recent U.S. military attacks. This marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, as Iran had previously allowed some merchant ship passage despite U.S. actions.

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The security situation in the southern coastal areas has rapidly worsened due to U.S. attacks.

The Iranian military's joint command announced on Tuesday that all ships, including oil tankers and merchant vessels, would be considered targets if they tried to transit the strait. According to the semi-official Mehr news agency, Iranian military officials cited a rapid deterioration of security in the southern coastal areas due to U.S. attacks as the reason for the closure.

However, the U.S. military has contested Iran's announcement, asserting that commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains unaffected. U.S. Central Command stated via X (formerly Twitter) that Iran's claim of closure is merely an "assertion" and that "merchant ships continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz tonight."

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Any vessel attempting to pass through the strait will be a target without exception.

The Iranian declaration follows a series of U.S. airstrikes on southern Iran, occurring just hours after President Donald Trump warned of renewed "heavy" strikes if peace talks failed. Reports from Al Jazeera indicate intense exchanges of fire between U.S. forces and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy in the vicinity of the strait. Several key locations along Iran's southern coast, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Minab, as well as islands like Qeshm and Hengam, have reportedly been targeted.

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Iran has never negotiated under threat and will not yield to pressure or coercion.

Amidst the heightened military activity, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, condemned the U.S. threats of force during a UN Security Council meeting. He stated that Iran does not negotiate under threat and will not yield to pressure or coercion, urging the U.S. President to refrain from such actions.

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Merchant ships continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz tonight.