Iran claims Strait of Hormuz closure as US denies maritime disruption
While Iranian officials declare the waterway "completely closed" in retaliation for recent US operations, US Central Command maintains that commercial traffic continues unaffected.
Iranian officials have announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing recent US military strikes as the primary catalyst for the decision. The declaration, reported by Al Jazeera Global News on 11 June 2026, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing geopolitical friction between Tehran and Washington. Iranian authorities framed the move as a direct response to the United States launching 49 Tomahawk missiles in a bombing raid on Iran early Thursday, Iran time.
The announcement was coordinated through Iran’s military apparatus, with the Khatam al-Anbiya command and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) leading the communication. The IRGC stated that the Strait was "completely closed" to all vessel traffic, including commercial and oil tanker ships, until further notice. The military body also claimed to have struck two ships attempting to pass through the waterway, alleging they were engaged for "illegally" transiting the zone.
These assertions stand in direct contradiction to statements released by US Central Command. The US military organisation denied that the Strait has been closed, stating on social media platform X that commercial ships continue to transit in and out of the waterway without interruption. Furthermore, US Central Command refuted initial Iranian media reports that US warships had been hit by missiles or drones near the strait, confirming that no American vessels have been struck.
The closure announcement occurs against a backdrop of rapidly intensifying hostilities involving multiple regional actors. Prior to the US missile strikes, Israel conducted operations targeting military sites in western and central Iran, including cities such as Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan. In retaliation for an earlier attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs, Iranian forces had also fired missiles at Israeli targets, contributing to the broader regional instability.
As of Thursday, the actual enforcement of the closure remains disputed. While Iranian sources insist on a total shutdown of maritime traffic, the US military’s insistence on continued commercial transit suggests a divergence in the operational reality on the ground. The situation remains fluid, with conflicting narratives regarding the security of the vital shipping lane and the extent of military engagements in the region.
