Iran announces complete closure of Strait of Hormuz after latest US airstrikes
Priyanka Shankar
Iran has declared a total closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all oil tankers and commercial vessels, vowing to fire on any ship attempting to pass through. The escalation follows days of US airstrikes on Iran, with both sides trading attacks and risking a broader conflict. The strait closure has driven oil prices sharply higher and threatens global energy supplies.
Iran announced a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all oil tankers and commercial vessels, vowing to fire on any ship attempting to pass through. The escalation is a direct response to days of US airstrikes on Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most critical maritime chokepoint, handling 20% of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments in peacetime. It is the only sea outlet for Gulf oil producers.
Following the initial US-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran on February 28, Iran sealed the strait. Since then, Tehran sporadically allowed some vessels to cross, in some cases charging fees of up to $2 million per ship.
Latest escalation
Iran's military ordered the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz early Thursday in retaliation for US attacks that continued throughout the week. On Tuesday, Iranian media reported explosions at the port city of Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, saying water reservoirs serving 20,000 people were destroyed in an American airstrike.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) called the strikes "self-defense" and a "proportionate response" to Iran's downing of a US Apache attack helicopter on Monday. Iran denied deliberately targeting the helicopter.
In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched drone strikes on the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and fired long-range missiles at an air base in Jordan. Jordan's military said it shot down five missiles, while Kuwait reported "intercepting aerial targets."
On June 10, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that Washington was conducting new strikes on "key Iranian facilities" under orders from President Donald Trump to pressure Tehran into a ceasefire deal.
Ceasefire on the brink
Since direct talks in Islamabad collapsed on April 12, the US and Iran have communicated through Pakistani mediators. Key disagreements remain, particularly over Israel's continued occupation and airstrikes on Lebanon — an issue Iran wants included in any peace deal but Israel rejects.
Military analyst Elijah Magnier in Brussels described the tit-for-tat strikes as extremely dangerous due to the "risk of miscalculation" amid heightened tensions. "The most dangerous thing is that each side believes it can control the escalation, but a repeated incident can erode restraint and lead to a larger conflict," he said.
Samir Puri, an expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, said the situation would not "cool down anytime soon" and was "the worst escalation since the April ceasefire."
Strait control and economic damage
After US-Israeli attacks on Iran began on February 28, Tehran sealed the strait. On April 8, Iran reopened it for a few hours after a ceasefire, but the US immediately blockaded Iranian ports on April 13 when talks collapsed. Iran closed the strait again on April 18.
Since the blockade, oil prices have soared from about $65 per barrel to $126. On June 11, Brent crude stood at $93.18 per barrel, up 0.09%.
According to Kpler data, 279 vessels transited the strait between February 28 and April 12 — a fraction of the pre-war average of 100 ships per day. Maritime news agency Lloyd's List reported that at least two ships paid fees to Iran in Chinese yuan through Chinese intermediaries.
Ship attacks and blockade
At least 22 vessels have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. On April 18, an IRGC warship fired on two Indian ships even though Iran had previously allowed Indian vessels to pass. New Delhi summoned Iran's ambassador for an explanation.
On April 22, Iran seized two other foreign commercial vessels for "illegally entering the strait." On June 11, the IRGC claimed to have hit two more ships, while CENTCOM said it had disabled the Palau-flagged tanker M/T Settebello carrying Iranian oil, killing three Indian crew members. India summoned a senior US diplomat to protest.
In total, US forces have disabled 8 ships, diverted 134 vessels, and allowed 42 humanitarian ships to pass since mid-April.
The strait closure also affects global supplies of fertilizers and pharmaceuticals. Analysts say Iran's latest declaration shows Tehran is hardening its stance, increasing pressure on the Trump administration to find an exit from the current conflict. An expert at the University of Tehran said the solution to the Strait of Hormuz issue is political, not military.
