Iran closes Strait of Hormuz as US strikes deepen tensions

Iran’s main military command has closed the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels after fresh US attacks.

Summary

• Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya command said the Strait of Hormuz is closed to all vessels until further notice.
• Iranian media reported that Revolutionary Guards forces hit two ships attempting to pass through the waterway.
• US Central Command said it launched fresh strikes on Iran as Qatar sent a delegation to discuss the war.

Iran Iranian media said Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters cited security threats in the waterway. The move came as talks to end the conflict faced new pressure.

Iran warns ships against Hormuz passage

Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran’s military command declared the strait “completely closed to all types of vessels.” The command said “any vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy said two ships tried to pass through the waterway. State television IRIB and the Mehr agency reported that Iranian forces hit both vessels. The Guards said the ships attempted to “illegally pass through the Strait of Hormuz.” They also warned ships against leaving anchorages in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman.

“Approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy,” the Guards said. The warning followed earlier claims of US attacks near Iran’s southern coast. Iranian media also reported explosions near Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Minab, and Sirik. Iranian sources said “enemy projectiles” hit Qeshm, Kargan, and Sirik.

US launches new strikes in Iran

US Central Command said it launched strikes against multiple Iranian targets on June 10. The command described them as “additional self-defence strikes.” CENTCOM said the strikes began at 5.15pm New York time. It added that the action answered Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”

As it was reported by crypto.news, the new attacks followed US strikes on June 9 after Iran downed a US Apache helicopter. Iranian media said those earlier strikes hit air defence, radar, and other sites. President Donald Trump accused Iran of delaying talks on an interim peace deal. He told reporters that US forces would “hit them hard” before the strikes began.

“We hit them hard yesterday, and we’re going to hit them hard again today,” Trump said. He declined to name the targets before the military announcement. Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of striking civilian infrastructure. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes sought to push Iran toward a deal.

Talks continue as the Qatar delegation arrives

A White House official said negotiations continued, even as Washington increased military pressure. The official said the US would maintain pressure until both sides reach a deal. Trump later said the US military supported the passage of more than 200 commercial ships. He said those movements carried more than 100 million barrels of oil to market.

Trump also claimed the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz, “not Iran.” Tehran’s latest statement directly challenged that claim through its closure order. The semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency reported that a Qatari delegation reached Tehran on June 10. The delegation planned to discuss the diplomatic process to end the war.

The closure announcement followed claims of repeated ceasefire violations by the “American enemy.” Iran said the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until further notice. The waterway remains central to oil and commercial shipping between the Persian Gulf and global markets. Iranian media reported the closure after explosions across southern Iran near the strait.