20/06/2026
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20/06/2026
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TEHRAN/WASHINGTON Jun 20: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced on Saturday that it had closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz to all maritime traffic, warning vessels to stay away, while the United States maintained that commercial shipping continued to move safely through the vital waterway.
According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, a military source in the IRGC Navy said the Strait of Hormuz had been “completely closed” as of Saturday morning. In a subsequent statement, the IRGC Navy said the move was a response to what it described as US violations of ceasefire commitments and Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
The force warned all ships against approaching the strait, stating that vessels ignoring the warning could face security risks.
The announcement heightened concerns over global energy supplies, as the Strait of Hormuz serves as one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints for oil and gas exports.
However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) disputed Iran’s claim, saying commercial traffic through the strait remained uninterrupted. CENTCOM reported that 55 merchant vessels transited the waterway on June 20, transporting more than 17 million barrels of oil and other cargo to international markets.
The US military said its forces continued operations in the region to support freedom of navigation and ensure the safe passage of commercial shipping.
CENTCOM also referenced a Joint Maritime Information Center advisory confirming that vessels could continue using a designated transit route that remained free of restrictions or impediments.
“US forces remain present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect,” the command said in a statement.
The conflicting claims from Tehran and Washington have added uncertainty to regional maritime security, with global markets closely monitoring developments in the strategically important waterway.