TEHRAN (Dunya News/Reuters) - Amid escalating regional tensions, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that no vessels will be permitted to transit the strategic passage until further notice.
In an official statement, the IRGC said maritime traffic through the strait has been suspended, effectively halting one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
An official from the European Union’s naval mission, Operation Aspides, said ships in the area have been receiving VHF radio transmissions from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stating that “no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz.”
The EU official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, noted that Tehran has not formally confirmed the order.
Iran has repeatedly threatened in the past to block the narrow waterway in retaliation for any attack against the Islamic Republic.
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The strait, approximately 40 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil supply passes through the route daily, according to British media reports.
Oil exports from major Gulf producers — including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and United Arab Emirates — rely heavily on the passage.
Qatar, the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), also depends on the strait for its energy shipments.
OPEC member states export the bulk of their crude oil to Asian markets via the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the potentially far-reaching economic consequences of any prolonged disruption.