Iran closes Strait of Hormuz after striking a vessel – escalation in the Middle East
The Strait of Hormuz is not just a waterway but a nerve centre of the global economy. When it is shut, the world holds its breath: oil prices surge, insurance premiums rise, and geopolitical risks outweigh any economic forecasts. Every ship passing through this narrow corridor carries not only oil but also hopes for stability. Today, those hopes have once again been dealt a blow.
Early on Sunday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice after engaging a vessel that attempted to traverse the strategic waterway on an unauthorised route. The IRGC statement said several ships tried to deviate from approved shipping lanes, ignoring repeated warnings to alter course, and that one vessel was struck by a cruise missile and forced to stop.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on the same day that a container ship had caught fire after sustaining damage in an incident off the coast of Oman late on Saturday. UKMTO said it had received a report from military authorities that the incident involved a container ship located nine nautical miles (16.7 kilometres) east of Oman. According to the report, the vessel sustained damage to its stern and caught fire.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions following recent exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran, triggered by alleged Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman. The IRGC navy announced the closure of the strait until further notice, stating that the closure would remain in effect until US interference in the region ceases, and no vessels would be allowed through until further notice.
The IRGC warned that any retaliation or further aggression against Iran would be met with a harsh response. The statement directly blamed the United States, Israel and countries hosting US military bases for any consequences of escalation.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor through which roughly one fifth of global seaborne oil exports typically pass. Its partial blockade in the spring of 2026 already caused a sharp price spike and supply chain disruptions. The latest developments unfold against the backdrop of an ongoing standoff over control of the strait, following a meeting between Iranian and Omani foreign ministers on Saturday and following days of alleged Iranian attacks on vessels and US retaliatory strikes that have strained a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war.
The United States recently revoked a licence allowing Iranian oil exports, accusing Iran of threatening freedom of navigation through the strait, as CCTV+ reports.
