Iran announces temporary closure of Strait of Hormuz

Iran says it has temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, as part of ongoing military exercises.

The country’s elite military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said commercial vessels would not be allowed to pass through the strait while the live drills are under way.

However, it did not say how long the exercises would last.

The IRGC said shipping would resume once the drills are completed and the situation reviewed.

Earlier, a senior IRGC commander, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, indicated that large-scale manoeuvres were being planned in the area and warned that traffic could be suspended for security reasons.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea and is a key artery for global energy supplies. About a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the narrow waterway.