Iran Declares Strait of Hormuz Closed, Warns Ships Against Passage

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic and threatened to attack any vessel attempting to transit the strategic waterway, marking a significant escalation in the widening Middle East conflict. The stern warning, issued by senior IRGC officials on March 2, 2026, comes amid sustained hostilities between Tehran and a U.S.–Israeli coalition.

The Strait of Hormuz — a narrow chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea — is one of the world’s most critical maritime routes for oil and liquefied natural gas, handling roughly 20 % of global oil shipments. Iran’s announcement that it will set “ablaze” any vessel attempting passage underscores how deeply the conflict has spread beyond direct military targets.

According to Iranian state media, Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the IRGC’s commander-in-chief, said the strait is “closed” and that elite Guard units and the regular Navy would attack any foreign ship that disregards the order. The statement comes amid Tehran’s retaliation for joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure late last week.

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International maritime authorities have reported a dramatic drop in vessel traffic through the strait, with ship-tracking data indicating that many commercial tankers have either turned back or chosen alternate routes amid safety fears. Major shipping companies are suspending sailings through the passage, citing heightened risk following recent attacks on vessels near the strait.

Iran’s claim of closure and threats to attack passing ships have not gone uncontested. Maritime security sources and Western military officials note that Tehran has not issued a formal blockade order under international law, and some vessels in the area have not received confirmation of such directives. Still, the effective halting of traffic reflects industry caution as insurers cancel or sharply raise coverage for tankers in the region.

The development has triggered alarm among world energy markets, already strained by previous disruptions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Analysts warn that a sustained shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger sharp spikes in global oil prices, disrupt supply chains, and deepen economic strain globally. Diplomatic and military officials from multiple countries are now calling for urgent efforts to de-escalate the crisis before it further imperils global energy security.

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