Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that two US-backed tankers were struck and forced to halt while attempting to transit what it described as an "unsafe and illegal route" through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's state-run Press TV.
The IRGC alleged that four other tankers subsequently altered course and returned to their previous positions following the incident.
In a statement carried by Press TV, the IRGC further claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and that any vessel seeking to transit the strategic waterway would require coordination with the IRGC Navy. The assertion directly contradicts earlier statements from the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which has maintained that maritime traffic continues through the region.
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The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from CENTCOM, US authorities, or international shipping agencies regarding the reported incident or the alleged closure of the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical oil transit routes, handling roughly a fifth of global seaborne crude shipments. Any disruption to shipping through the chokepoint is closely watched by energy markets.
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