Iranian naval forces have imposed a full blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, halting all commercial and military maritime traffic through the critical chokepoint.
DUBAI, UAE – In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced on Wednesday a complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. According to a statement broadcast on state television, all vessels are prohibited from transiting the waterway until further notice. The strait, a 21-mile-wide passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, handles approximately 20% of the world's petroleum consumption. Preliminary reports indicate that at least two commercial tankers were denied passage and turned back, while several naval assets, including a U.S. destroyer, have repositioned to international waters outside the blockade zone. Global crude oil prices surged by more than eight percent within minutes of the announcement, with analysts warning of immediate supply chain disruptions affecting energy markets in Asia, Europe, and North America. The United States Fifth Fleet confirmed it is monitoring the situation and called for an urgent United Nations Security Council session. No casualties have been reported in the initial hours of the blockade.