Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has decided to close the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC. The report stated that the move was made due to the strait’s strategic importance. The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in southern Iran, serves as a vital maritime route for global shipping.

Tasnim reported that the IRGC has sent messages to vessels, informing them that no ships will be permitted to pass through the strait until further notice. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed receiving multiple reports about this warning. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical trade routes, carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.

The closure could have significant implications for international energy transport and maritime trade, given the strait’s central role in global oil and gas distribution.