Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz After Warning Shots at Vessel; U.S. Strikes Iranian Targets

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy closed the Strait of Hormuz until further notice on July 12, 2026. The closure followed the striking of a commercial vessel the IRGC Navy accused of using an unauthorized route. The IRGC Navy said several vessels had disregarded warnings to stay on approved paths.

One vessel that turned off its tracking systems and jeopardized maritime security was struck and halted. The closure will remain in effect until the end of U.S. interference in the region, the IRGC Navy stated.

It warned that any U.S. or allied response would draw severe retaliation, including strikes on new enemy bases. U.S. Central Command forces began the third round of strikes against Iran at 7:15 p.m. ET on July 12, 2026.

The strikes targeted IRGC forces after they attacked M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the strait. A civilian crew member is missing and the ship sustained significant engine-room damage, the command said. The strikes were carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners, U.S.

Central Command stated. The Strait of Hormuz carries about 20 percent of the world's oil supply. Iranian and Omani representatives met in Muscat on July 11 to discuss the waterway. Satellite images from July 9 showed damage at the control tower in Iran's port of Chabahar following earlier U.S.

Strikes. The Trump administration had warned on July 10 that failure by Iran to keep the strait open would not be a great day for them.