Iran announced early Sunday that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz to traffic and struck a vessel navigating the waterway, according to reports. The announcement came after the United States requested that the strait remain open for passage.
Iran's announcement at 02:54 Jerusalem time on Sunday provided a new justification for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the attack on a vessel, saying both were carried out after the United States requested that the waterway remain open. The statement adds a new detail to a crisis that has escalated rapidly since the early hours of Sunday.
The first reports emerged at 01:44 Jerusalem, when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced the temporary closure of the strait, citing foreign intervention and warning shots at a vessel. Within minutes, the IRGC claimed a missile strike on a vessel, and the United States accused Iran of attacking a merchant ship. The Zioneer reported at 02:11 that Iran claimed to have struck a vessel using an 'unauthorized route,' and at 02:29 that Iran had claimed to close the strait and strike a vessel. By 02:52, the U.S. military launched strikes against Iran, as reported by The Zioneer. The thread shows how initial IRGC claims were gradually corroborated by U.S. confirmation, followed by a U.S. military response, and now Iran has added a new rationale linking the actions to a U.S. request.
The Zioneer has reported on repeated Iranian threats to close the strait since June 2026, with the IRGC formally declaring a blockade last week. The U.S. has responded with military strikes, as reported at 02:52. The current announcement is the first time Iran has explicitly linked its actions to a U.S. request.
The status of the strait remains contested. U.S. officials have denied that an effective blockade is in place, and the claim of an attack on a vessel has not been independently confirmed. The identity of the vessel and any casualties remain unknown.
7 developments
- StrongIranian outlets claim Strait of Hormuz remains closed, contradicting US denials
- DevelopingIran reportedly closes Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingUS military strikes Iran after IRGC attacks container ship in Strait of Hormuz
- StrongIranian source threatens to attack any vessel crossing the Strait of Hormuz
Source and signal
- Internal intake