IRGC Hormuz Closure Claim Follows Cargo-Ship Hit

Iran's Revolutionary Guard navy said after 1:30 a.m. Israel time that the Strait of Hormuz was closed until further notice and until U.S. interference ends, after its forces fired at a vessel it accused of using an unapproved route. A U.S. official was cited saying an IRGC missile hit a cargo ship and caused heavy damage, while regional live updates said the closure claim followed a warning-shot incident. The move came after Oman floated separate northern and southern route arrangements and Washington demanded free transit. For Israel, the episode keeps Iran's coercive maritime strategy tied to the wider regional front, where open shipping and pressure on the regime matter for security and energy stability.