Iran Declares Strait of Hormuz Closed After Striking Container Ship

On July 11, Iran's Revolutionary Guards declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice.

The announcement came hours after IRGC forces struck the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship the guards said had traveled on an unauthorized route. The attack left the ship unable to continue. Its engine room was knocked out and a fire broke out on board. One crew member is missing.

The United States launched a third round of strikes on Iran in response. CENTCOM said Iran had been given another chance to comply with the terms of an existing navigation agreement and had "again failed." The strikes began shortly after the IRGC issued the closure order.

Iran said the strait would stay shut until American military activity in the region ends. The Hormuz is one of the world's key oil chokepoints: about a fifth of daily global oil supply and a similar share of traded LNG moves through it.

The GFS Galaxy attack came four days after Iranian forces struck the Qatari LNG tanker Al Rekayyat. That tanker is still awaiting salvage off the Omani coast.