Iran said late Saturday that it had shut down the Strait of Hormuz after opening fire on and striking a commercial vessel in the vital shipping corridor, escalating tensions despite President Trump’s ultimatum to Tehran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed its forces targeted an unauthorized ship after first firing a warning shot and instructing the vessel to alter its course.
“A vessel that had jeopardized maritime security by switching off its systems was struck and brought to a halt,” the IRGC Navy said in a statement, offering no further information about the ship.
According to the statement, multiple vessels tried to pass through the strait using an “unauthorized route” and ignored orders to adjust their navigation.
The IRGC said the strait — a chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil supplies — would remain closed “until further notice” and until “the end of US interference in this region.”
The group further warned that any action by the United States or its allies would be met with “severe” retaliation.
The United States responded by carrying out its third wave of strikes against the Iranian regime this week.
“At 7:15 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching the third round of strikes this week against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces blatantly attacked M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” US Central Command announced on X.
The agency said a civilian crew member is now “missing” and the ship sustained “significant engineroom damage.”
“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed,” the statement continued.
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“In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait. The strikes are being carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief.”
The drama on the seas came after the Trump administration issued its own threat Friday, vowing that if Iran failed to keep the strait open and call off attacks, “it’s not going to be a great day for them.”
Meanwhile, Iranian and Omani representatives met in Muscat Saturday to discuss the crucial chokehold, an international body of water that the US is demanding remain open to commercial shipping.
The US launched strikes on Iranian targets over two days last week in response to attacks on ships making their way through the strait.
