The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, which was hit by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, has been notifying that it will not allow vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz on the 28th (local time), Reuters reported.
According to Reuters, an official with the European Union (EU) naval mission "Aspides" said ships received a radio message from the IRGC stating, "No vessels can pass through the Strait of Hormuz." The official noted, however, that Iran's government has not formally confirmed this policy. The IRGC, which safeguards Iran's theocratic system, is an organization under the direct control of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, and, while it cooperates with the Iranian government, it holds independent authority.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also said it had received numerous reports from ships operating in the Gulf region that they had been sent messages about blocking the Strait of Hormuz. The UKMTO explained that such communications carry no legal force under international law unless they are lawfully enacted.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the United States on this day advised merchant ships to avoid the Gulf region after the Iranian attack.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key Middle Eastern crude oil shipping lane and strategic chokepoint located between Iran, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Situated at the mouth of the Gulf, the strait is the passage for 20%–30% of the world's seaborne crude shipments. Iran has repeatedly raised the possibility of closing the strait whenever regional tensions rise, but it has never actually moved to a full closure.
However, concerns are growing that if a closure of the strait materializes, it could deliver a major shock not only to global shipping but also to international oil prices.