The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, according to a report. The statement, which does not include the 'until further notice' qualifier present in earlier IRGC announcements, marks the latest in a series of declarations on the strategic waterway.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a new statement at 01:31 Jerusalem tonight, declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed without the 'until further notice' qualifier that appeared in its previous announcement just seven minutes earlier. The omission of the time limit signals a potentially more definitive closure, escalating the maritime standoff.
The previous IRGC announcement at 01:24 Jerusalem, reported by The Zioneer, stated the closure was 'until further notice.' That announcement followed a day of rapid escalation on Saturday, July 11: at 13:41 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that a senior Trump administration official issued an ultimatum demanding Iran open the strait by evening or face a 'sad day.' The New York Times then reported US officials warning of consequences, and the US demanded a formal commitment not to fire on commercial vessels. Iran rejected the ultimatum. The IRGC then announced the closure in a series of statements, including one claiming it struck a vessel and another detailing warning fire on a vessel that ignored orders.
As The Zioneer reported in its wider coverage, the IRGC first threatened to close the strait in June after Iran's World Cup disqualification (June 22) and declared it closed to Israel-linked vessels (June 20). On June 30, the IRGC threatened to re-close the strait unless it received guarantees of sole control, according to a Wall Street Journal report cited by The Zioneer.
It remains unclear how the IRGC will enforce the latest closure, which vessels are affected, and whether the omission of the time limit reflects a broader policy shift. The IRGC has not provided operational details.
15 developments
- DevelopingIRGC launches missile at vessel attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingIranian report: IRGC strikes ships that attacked Iran with missiles
- DevelopingIRGC-affiliated news agency claims Iranian missile hit US Navy ship off Oman
- DevelopingIRGC says it struck a Singapore-flagged vessel ignoring its orders tonight
Source and signal
- Internal intake