The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it is no longer bound by any agreement on maritime transit and has closed the Strait of Hormuz to vessels linked to the 'Zionist entity and its supporters,' citing continued Israeli operations in Lebanon and U.S. inaction as justification, according to Iranian state-aligned channels.
On Saturday evening, the IRGC issued a formal statement declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed to vessels affiliated with Israel and its supporters, effectively narrowing the scope of a total blockade to a targeted maritime restriction. The IRGC said it considers itself released from 'any commitment or agreement related to the opening of shipping lanes' that was conditional on a cessation of what it termed aggression in Lebanon.
This announcement follows a week of escalating threats, with Iran repeatedly linking the waterway's status to Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon. According to the Iranian Fars news agency, the IRGC navy will not issue transit permits until further notice. A Sunday report from an Iranian security source, as relayed by the Abu Ali Express outlet, cited continued closure as a response to U.S. avoidance of imposing direct pressure on Israel to halt the campaign in Lebanon.
As The Zioneer reported Friday, Tehran had previously conditioned reopening on a full IDF withdrawal from Lebanon. The IRGC's new language explicitly targets supporters of Israel, while simultaneously serving as a hardened challenge to Washington and the international community to alter the military dynamics in Lebanon, a front that has seen near-daily exchanges since June.
9 developments
- ConfirmedNew Iranian body declares Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice
- StrongIranian outlets claim Strait of Hormuz remains closed, contradicting US denials
- DevelopingUS Navy warns IRGC vessels in Persian: 'halt or we attack' near Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingIRGC turns ships back in Strait of Hormuz, analyst suggests mine avoidance
Source and signal
- Internal intake