Iran declares Strait of Hormuz closed as US-Iran tensions escalate
A joint statement from 22 nations condemns Iranian attacks, while President Donald Trump asserts direct contact with Tehran to halt the bombing campaign.
Iran’s military command announced on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz is completely closed to all vessel traffic, declaring that any ship attempting to transit the strategic waterway will be targeted. The decision follows Iranian strikes on two vessels attempting to pass through the route and recent US airstrikes in southern Iran. The Khatam al-Anbiya command stated that the closure applies to all types of vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
The Iranian navy reported that two ships attempting to "illegally pass through" the Strait were hit. However, US Central Command denied the closure, stating on social media platform X that commercial ships continue to transit in and out of the Strait. The command also confirmed that no US warships have been struck, contradicting initial Iranian reports that US ships near the strait were targeted by missiles and drones.
Tensions have intensified over the past three months, with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accusing the United States of repeated violations of an April ceasefire. The conflict has drawn in regional actors, including Israel, which conducted strikes on military targets in western and central Iran, including Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan, following Iranian missile attacks on Israeli targets.
In response to the escalating violence, 22 countries, including the United States and European nations, issued a joint statement on Thursday warning Iran to stop attacking people on their soil. The statement emphasised that such actions undermine national sovereignty and international norms, demanding an immediate halt to these activities.
US President Donald Trump stated that Iranian leaders had contacted him directly to halt the bombing campaign, according to Fox News. Trump reported that US forces hit Iran with 49 Tomahawk missiles in a bombing raid early Thursday Iran time. He warned that if Iran does not accept US terms for ending the war, he will "bomb the S out of them tomorrow night." Iranian officials denied these contacts, with an unnamed senior official calling Trump’s claim a "cover to evade war with Iran."
