Photo courtesy of Tasnim news agency.
The partial shutdown—described by officials as a safety measure—was linked to IRGC exercises in the strategic waterway, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Iran's Al-Alam television quoted IRGC Navy commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri as saying the force is “ready to close the Strait of Hormuz if the country’s top leaders decide so,” underscoring Tehran’s longstanding threat to disrupt traffic through the critical oil route.
State television also reported that Iran “has no red lines when it comes to protecting the security of the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects Gulf oil producers to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. About a quarter of global seaborne oil and roughly a fifth of liquefied natural gas shipments pass through the narrow corridor, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Iran stated that the exercises began on Monday to prepare for “potential security and military threats” in the area. Officials did not specify how long the drills—or the temporary restrictions—would last.
The manoeuvres come amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington. Iranian media reported the United States has recently deployed additional naval assets to the Gulf, moves widely seen as pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz during periods of confrontation with the United States, though it has never carried out a full closure.
Separately, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned that the United States would face consequences if it attacked the Islamic Republic.
“We constantly hear that they … have sent a warship toward Iran. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it,” he said.
The warnings came as Tehran and Washington launched a new round of indirect nuclear talks in Geneva mediated by Oman, with both sides maintaining a hard public line.
US President Donald Trump said negotiations were under way but cautioned Iran against failure to reach a deal.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, Trump said, “I will participate in those talks, indirectly,” adding, “I don’t think they want to face the consequences of not making a deal.”
Tehran has insisted the talks are limited strictly to its nuclear programme, while Washington is pushing for a broader agreement that would also address Iran’s missile development and regional activities, demands Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected.
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