*Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Sunday, July 12, threatened the critical Strait of Hormuz would be closed ‘until further notice’, and until the end of American interventions in the region, stating ‘no vessels will be allowed to pass through’
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
Following the collapse of a recent ceasefire, and United States’ (US) renewed strikes against both the Military and civilian targets in the Islamic country, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Sunday, July 12, 2026, said the essential and critical Strait of Hormuz would be closed “until further notice”.
The Iranian Government noted this after the Guards had fired warning shots at a vessel, they said used an unauthorised route in the axis, state media IRNA report said Sunday.
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Observers said Iran’s move again, had threatened to further complicate efforts at restoring the US-Iran negotiations after both sides exchanged strikes over the past few days and traded threats.
The critical Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
Around a fifth (20 percent) of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade normally passes through the waterway, making any disruption a major concern for energy markets globally.
News outlets Axios and Politico report also disclosed that Washington had given Tehran until Saturday to stop firing at commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and formally acknowledge that the waterway is open.
A key roadblock to a final agreement is the future of the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran insisting it will control shipping through the waterway and Washington demanding unrestricted navigation.
The Guards said the vessel was “hit by warning shots and stopped” after ignoring repeated instructions to use an approved shipping corridor, according to a statement carried by state news agency.
It also stated: “Following this incident… the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until further notice and until the end of American interventions in this region, and no vessels will be allowed to pass through,” the Guards said.
Besides, the Guards reportedly said they would target “new enemy bases in the region”, if new military action was carried out against them.
It is recalled that Iran closed the strait to commercial shipping during its war with the United States and Israel.
The development at the time contributed to sharp rises in oil prices and disrupting maritime traffic across the region and beyond.
Iran has insisted that it has the right to regulate passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and has announced plans to charge fees for vessels using the route.
Similarly, the Iranian officials have repeatedly said there will be no return to the pre-war system of unrestricted navigation.
The United States, however, has rejected that position, and maintained that commercial shipping must be able to move freely through the waterway.
Under customary international law, countries are generally not permitted to impose tolls on straits used for international navigation, report said.