On the night of June 11, the situation in the Persian Gulf escalated sharply. The Iranian Armed Forces officially announced the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. This decision was a direct response to the resumption of hostilities and airstrikes by the United States on Iranian territory.

Total Blockade and Threat of Fire

The Iranian statement contains a categorical warning: due to unsafe conditions, the strait is closed to all types of vessels. Both oil tankers and regular merchant ships are prohibited. Iranian authorities warned that any vessel attempting to breach the blockade will be fired upon.

According to the Tasnim agency, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, Iranian forces have already intercepted attempts by two ships to pass through the strait. This confirms that the threat is not empty rhetoric but is being implemented in practice.

Contradictory Versions

The American side categorically disagrees with Tehran's assessment of the situation. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on its X social media account refuted the information about the closure of the strait. According to the Pentagon, merchant ships continue to pass through the waterway unimpeded in both directions.

However, the historical context forces us to take Iran's words seriously. As early as February, after the start of the active phase of the conflict, access to the strait was blocked for several months. During that period, according to JPMorgan analysts, shipping volumes dropped to a critical 15% of pre-war levels.

Conflict Escalation: From a Shot-Down Helicopter to New Strikes

The current wave of violence began with an incident on June 9. US President Donald Trump reported that Iranian forces in the area of the Strait of Hormuz shot down an American AH-64 combat helicopter. In response, Washington promised a retaliatory strike.

The night of June 10 was marked by a series of US airstrikes on Iranian air defense facilities, ground command posts, and other strategic targets. Iran responded symmetrically, claiming to have struck US assets in the Middle East.

Mutual shelling has not ceased. On the afternoon of June 10, Trump stated that Iran was dragging its feet on negotiations and that the country would have to "pay" for it. That evening, media reported on a meeting at the White House Situation Room discussing the possibility of a large-scale but short-term attack to pressure Tehran.

Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth confirmed readiness for new actions, stating that the strike would be carried out within 24 hours. The forecast came true: on the night of June 11, US troops resumed bombing Iran, which triggered the decision to close the Strait of Hormuz.