Iran's Persian Gulf Management Authority (the body controlling the Strait of Hormuz) announced Sunday that passage through the strait is currently impossible, citing 'recent illegal activity' by US military forces in the region. The statement, responding to US Central Command, says transit will resume once stability and calm return.
Iran's Persian Gulf Management Authority – the administrative body Tehran established to control the Strait of Hormuz – issued a statement Sunday afternoon responding to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The authority declared that passage through the strait is currently impossible, citing 'recent illegal activity' by U.S. military forces in the region. It added that once stability and calm return, all requests will be examined and permits issued.
The statement appears to be a direct rebuttal to CENTCOM's assertion from Saturday that Iran does not control the strait and that shipping continues as normal. The Zioneer has extensively covered the Strait of Hormuz closure since early June, when the newly formed authority first declared an indefinite closure. Over the past month, the crisis has seen threats of indefinite closure, Iranian military confirmation of the blockade, and U.S. ultimatums. Sunday's statement reinforces the administrative blockade, blaming the U.S. for the disruption.
The exact scope of the closure remains unclear, as reports have conflicted on whether some traffic continues under U.S. Navy escort. The Iranian authority's statement does not provide a timeline for reopening.
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