Iran declares Strait of Hormuz closed amid escalating US-Iran tensions
Tehran denies contact with President Trump, while US Central Command reports commercial traffic continues and no US warships have been hit.
Iran’s military command has announced the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all vessel traffic, stating it would target any ship attempting to transit the strategic waterway. The declaration by the Khatam al-Anbiya command follows fresh US airstrikes on southern Iran and Iranian claims that two vessels were struck while attempting to pass through the chokepoint.
The Iranian navy reported that two ships attempting to illegally pass through the Strait of Hormuz were hit, according to state television and the Mehr news agency. The military command, citing Tasnim news agency, stated that the strait is now "completely closed to all types of vessel," including oil tankers and commercial ships, and that any vessel attempting passage will be shot at.
In response to the Iranian military’s assertions, US Central Command confirmed on Wednesday that no US warships have been struck in the Strait of Hormuz. This statement contradicted initial reports from Iranian state media, which suggested that US ships near the strait had been targeted by missiles and drones launched by Iranian armed forces. The US military also noted that commercial ships continue to transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz, challenging the claim of a total closure.
A diplomatic dispute has emerged regarding communications between the two nations. President Donald Trump told Fox News on Wednesday that he spoke directly with Iranian officials who asked him to stop strikes on the country. However, an unnamed senior Iranian official denied on Thursday that Iranian officials were in contact with President Trump, dismissing his claim as a "cover to evade war with Iran."
The escalation comes against a backdrop of intensified regional conflict. Recent tensions include US airstrikes on areas in southern Iran and prior Israeli strikes against military targets in western and central Iran, including Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan. These Israeli attacks followed Iranian missile attacks on Israeli targets and strikes by Iran's Revolutionary Guards on headquarters in Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan.
