Iranian official: We will close routes in the Strait of Hormuz made by violators with bombings
Quick Look
Mohammad Reza Naghdi, advisor to the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, announced that Tehran will close “illegal” routes in the Strait of Hormuz, confirming Iranian forces’ full control over the strait, in light of continuing tensions with the United States over shipping and oil traffic.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is witnessing ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, as the parties exchange statements about controlling maritime navigation.
Advisor to the Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Mohammad Reza Naghdi, said that Tehran will close “illegal” paths in the Strait of Hormuz, noting that they were created after the destruction of some rocky paths.
On Wednesday, the semi-official Iranian Tasnim Agency quoted Reza Naqdi’s statement, where he said that those tracks “which were created by the violators by blowing up and destroying some of the rocky tracks in the Strait of Hormuz... will be closed soon.”
He added: "The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and the Iranian armed forces have full control over it, and this situation will continue unless Iran's legitimate demands are met."
He continued his speech by saying: "The volume of smuggled oil is very small, and it cannot be said that the Strait of Hormuz is open to such activities; we will address this issue as well."
The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran continues to affect the situation in the Gulf, specifically the transit rates of ships in the vital Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump has long said that the Strait of Hormuz is under American control and is open to the movement of ships to protect American forces, which Iran denies.
Qatar announced, on Tuesday, that mediation efforts between the United States and Iran are still in place, as Doha continues to play the role of mediator between the two conflicting countries.
Open Questions
- What is the nature of the routes that Iran intends to close?
- How will the United States respond to these threats?
