Vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz have reportedly received radio messages warning that “no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz,” an official with the European Union’s naval mission Operation Aspides said on Saturday. The official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the warnings were transmitted over VHF radio and attributed to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Iran has not formally confirmed issuing any such order.
Following the warnings, the United States has urged commercial ships to avoid the Gulf, AFP reported, amid heightened regional tensions after joint US-Israel strikes on Iranian targets. Tehran has retaliated by targeting US and Israeli facilities in the Middle East and other American allies, including Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway linking major Gulf producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the UAE, to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It handles roughly 20% of global energy supplies, making any disruption a serious concern for international oil markets. There has been no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding any closure or enforcement action in the strait.
