Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz, threatens ships crossing

Iran on Thursday (11/6) closed the shipping lane through the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, after clashes with U.S. forces. Iran's military command and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy warned that ships trying to pass would be attacked, and that even vessels approaching the strait could be treated as collaborating with the enemy. On the other hand, U.S. Central Command said commercial traffic was still moving. The tensions followed reports of gunfire around Hormuz and U.S. strikes on several Iranian coastal points, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Qeshm, and Pulau Hengam. The Strait of Hormuz is a key export route for oil from the Gulf to global markets, so the threat of closure quickly raised concern about global energy supplies.