- Revolutionary Guards Say Passage Remains Restricted Without Tehran’s Approval as Vessel Traffic Falls Sharply
TEHRAN: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has rejected US claims that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to international shipping, describing the statements as an attempt to influence global oil prices and deflect attention from what it called US failures.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly asserted that the strategically vital waterway is open. However, the IRGC Navy said such claims were “an obvious lie,” maintaining that the strait remains closed to vessels that do not have Iranian permission to transit.
In a statement, the IRGC Navy said the restrictions would remain in place until US military actions against Iran cease and related commitments are implemented.
The latest shipping data appeared to indicate a significant decline in traffic through the strategic waterway. Preliminary figures released on Friday showed that only seven commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, compared with 17 vessels the previous day and below the 10-day average of 15.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, and any sustained disruption to shipping through the waterway could have significant implications for global oil supplies, energy markets and international trade.
BY: The Times Union
