Published by Seatrade-Maritime

The IRGC Navy has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and announced it hit two ships attempting to “illegally pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” according to the Mehr News Agency.

Details of the vessels and any damage caused were not immediately available.

In a statement, IRGC headquarters said “from this moment on, due to insecurity in the region, the Strait of Hormuz is declared closed to the traffic of any type of vessel, including oil tankers and commercial vessels, and any traffic will be affected.”

US Central Command posted on Twitter claiming that the Strait remains open and vessels continue to transit. It also refuted claims that Iran had attacked a US warship in the Strait.

The announcements come as the US launched new strikes in Iran late on 10 June, the latest step in the deterioration of a ceasefire signed in April. On Tuesday, a US military helicopter was downed in the region in an attack blamed on Iran, although Iran has not taken responsibility. The US said its latest “self defense strikes” were a response to “Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.”

On June 9, The Palau-flagged tanker Settebello was attacked by US forces leading to a fire onboard, and on 8 June fired upon product tanker Marivex leading to a fire onboard and the rescue of 24 crew by the Omani Navy.