Tehran, March 7, 2026 — Iranian officials have firmly rejected claims that the Strait of Hormuz has been fully blocked or closed by Iran, even as the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel enters its second week and severely disrupts global shipping through the vital waterway.
In a statement reported across multiple outlets, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Saeed Khatibzadeh dismissed widespread speculation about a complete shutdown. “We have not yet closed the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “If we are going to close it, we are going to announce it… It has not been closed by us. We have no intention to do it until further notice.”
The remarks came in direct response to reports and social media discussions suggesting Iran had imposed a total blockade following joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes that began around late February 2026. Those attacks targeted Iranian military sites, including naval assets near the strait, and resulted in significant damage to Iran’s naval infrastructure.
Despite Tehran’s official position, the situation on the water tells a different story. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued stark warnings, declaring that vessels linked to the United States, Israel, or their allies would face attacks if they attempt to transit the strait. Senior IRGC figures have vowed to target or set ablaze any such ships, and Iranian state media has reported drone strikes on oil tankers and other vessels in the area.
The practical outcome has been a near-total collapse in commercial traffic. Marine tracking data and timelapse analyses from sources like MarineTraffic and independent maritime intelligence firms show a dramatic drop in vessel transits since the conflict intensified. Daily tanker crossings, which normally average dozens, have fallen to near zero for most commercial operators. Major shipping companies, including Maersk and others, have suspended passages through the strait due to heightened security risks, skyrocketing war-risk insurance premiums, and direct threats from Iranian forces.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, handles approximately 20% of the world’s seaborne oil trade and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas. Disruptions have already driven oil prices sharply higher, with Brent crude climbing amid fears of prolonged energy shortages. Gulf producers, including Kuwait, have reportedly begun cutting output due to storage constraints caused by the inability to export via the strait.
Iran appears to be applying selective enforcement rather than a blanket closure. Some reports indicate limited passage for certain vessels, including those potentially linked to non-hostile nations like China, while hostile or Western-affiliated ships face explicit prohibitions. This approach has created a de facto partial shutdown for much of the global shipping industry, even as Tehran avoids declaring a formal blockade that could further isolate it economically—Iran itself relies heavily on the strait for its own oil exports.
The U.S. Central Command has countered Iranian claims by stating that the strait is not closed, while emphasizing efforts to protect shipping lanes. U.S. naval forces have conducted operations to neutralize Iranian threats in the area, including strikes on naval targets.
As the war continues with intensified airstrikes on Tehran and Iranian retaliatory actions across the region, the status of the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint. While Iran officially maintains that no full closure is in place or planned, the combination of military threats, targeted attacks, and commercial caution has effectively choked off routine energy flows—raising the specter of a broader global energy crisis if the situation persists.
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