The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it fired a missile at a vessel attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and struck it, according to an IRGC statement. The announcement comes minutes after the IRGC declared a complete closure of the strait, as reported by The Zioneer.
The IRGC escalated its confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, confirming it struck a vessel with a missile just minutes after declaring a complete closure of the waterway. At 02:06 Jerusalem, the IRGC Navy announced the strait would be closed until 'the cessation of American intervention' and threatened a harsh response. By 02:09 Jerusalem, a second IRGC statement claimed a missile had been fired at a vessel attempting to cross, scoring a hit. This is the first time the IRGC has officially acknowledged a missile strike on a vessel during the current standoff, following an earlier US accusation that the IRGC had struck a merchant ship.
The sequence of events unfolded rapidly overnight. At 01:44 Jerusalem, The Zioneer first reported the IRGC's announcement of a temporary closure of the strait, with warning shots fired at a vessel that ignored orders. The initial reports cited the IRGC Navy and Iranian state media. At 01:45 Jerusalem, US officials told The Zioneer that the IRGC had launched a missile that struck a cargo ship, marking the first US confirmation of a strike. The IRGC itself initially only acknowledged warning shots. By 02:06 Jerusalem, the IRGC Navy issued a more detailed closure declaration, explicitly linking it to US intervention. Three minutes later, the IRGC confirmed its own missile strike, aligning with the US account but providing no further details.
The IRGC's actions in the strait are part of a broader pattern of escalation over the past weeks. As The Zioneer previously reported, the IRGC fired a missile at a vessel attempting to transit the strait on June 12, and attacked another vessel on July 7, in violation of a US-Iran memorandum of understanding. The IRGC also fired warning shots at several vessels on June 28, and threatened to re-close the strait on June 30 if it did not receive sole control guarantees, according to a Wall Street Journal report cited by The Zioneer. The current closure appears to be the most sweeping yet, with the IRGC asserting total control over the waterway.
The vessel's identity, nationality, extent of damage, and any casualties remain unverified. The IRGC's claim is the only source of information so far, and has not been corroborated by independent sources, including satellite imagery or maritime tracking data. The US has not yet commented on the IRGC's confirmation of the strike. The status of the rest of the strait is unclear, with the IRGC claiming closure but no reports of military action against other vessels.
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