‘No ship allowed’: Iran blocks Strait of Hormuz; US urges ships to avoid Gulf after US-Israel strike

An official with the European Union’s naval mission Operation Aspides said on Saturday that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz have been receiving radio messages stating that “no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz”.

The official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the warnings were transmitted over VHF radio and were attributed to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

However, Iran has not formally confirmed issuing any such order.





US has also urges commercial ships to avoid Gulf after US, Israel attack Iran, according to AFP.

The Strait of Hormuz is regarded as the world’s most critical oil export corridor. It links major Gulf producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, serving as a key transit point for global energy supplies.

Estimates say the route accounts for around 20% of global energy supplies.

Tehran has for years threatened to block the narrow waterway in retaliation for attacks on the Islamic Republic. The reported radio transmissions come amid heightened regional tensions, raising concerns about the security of commercial shipping and global oil flows.

It follows the US-Israel joint strikes on Iran, in retaliation Tehran has targeted Israel and US facilities in the Middle East and other American allies, including Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding any closure or enforcement action in the strait.