Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, US Responds with Air Strikes

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz “until further notice,” saying the waterway will remain closed until the United States ends its intervention in the region.

In response, U.S. Central Command launched a third round of strikes on Iranian military targets including missile, drone facilities, naval assets, and coastal defenses in cities such as Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and Chabahar. Flames were seen rising from all the targets hit.

The IRGC attacked Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy transiting the Strait of Hormuz, causing one crew member missing and engine room damage that immobilized the vessel. In a statement on Saturday, the IRGC Navy said the measure had been taken “in light of the security situation resulting from the unlawful intervention of foreign powers.”

“The Strait of Hormuz has been closed until further notice and will remain closed until the United States ends its intervention in the region. No vessel will be permitted to transit the strait,” the statement said.

Iran is committed to moving forward with its plans for administering the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with Clause 5 of the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU), an IRGC source said to Iranian media.

Meanwhile, Iran continues to engage with regional partners to stabilize the Strait of Hormuz, which has drawn heightened international attention following the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran in late February.

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Muscat for meetings with Omani officials, including his Omani counterpart. The talks focus on bilateral relations and regional developments, with the primary objective of discussing measures to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the strategic waterway and to end US interventions.

Explosions have been reported in Bandar Abbas, Asaluyeh, Bushehr, Sirik, Minab, and Ahvaz indicating widespread strikes on Iranian economic targets as earlier threatened by President Trump.