Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz; the US military said it is launching attacks against Iran, and explosions have been reported in multiple locations in Iran.
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The situation in the Middle East has suddenly escalated. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced the closure of the Hormuz Strait, the world's most important energy passage, and the U.S. military immediately announced it was launching strikes against Iran. Explosions were reported in multiple locations in southern Iran, as the conflict between the two countries entered a new phase of direct confrontation.
According to Xinhua News Agency, in the early morning of July 12, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced that the Hormuz Strait is closed from now on. No vessels are allowed to pass until further notice and until the United States ceases interference in the region.
Additionally, CCTV Finance reported that on July 11 (Eastern Time), the U.S. military stated that it was striking Iran in response to the attack on civilian vessels in the Hormuz Strait. Explosions were soon reported in southern Iran. According to multiple Iranian media, explosions were reported in Bushehr, Asalouyeh, Qeshm Island, and Chabahar Port.
The Hormuz Strait is a vital global oil and natural gas transportation route, and its closure directly threatens the stability of the global energy supply chain.
Revolutionary Guard Announces Strait Closure, Warns U.S. Not to Launch New Attacks
In a statement in the early morning of July 12, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced the closure of the Hormuz Strait to all vessels effective immediately.
The statement cited previous notices, saying that foreign interference in strait affairs and illegal designation of vessel routes would elicit a "firm response," and pointed out that the illegal intervention by foreign forces had already created an unsafe situation. The closure of the strait was based on these reasons.
The Revolutionary Guard described the events leading up to the closure: several vessels attempted to navigate along routes not approved by Iran, ignored Iran's directional corrections and warnings, and one ship with its automatic identification system turned off was hit and halted by warning shots from Iran.
The statement also issued a clear warning: If the United States uses this incident as an excuse to launch new attacks against Iran, Iran will respond forcefully and target more U.S. bases in the Middle East.
U.S. Military Announces Strikes Against Iran, Explosions Reported in Southern Regions
On July 11 (Eastern Time), the U.S. military announced it was launching strikes against Iran, labeling the action as a response to the incident involving civilian vessels attacked in the Hormuz Strait.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Iranian media reported on July 12 (local time) that explosions were heard at multiple locations in southern Iran, including Bushehr, Asalouyeh, Qeshm Island, and Chabahar Port.
All these locations are on the Persian Gulf coast; Bushehr is the site of Iran's nuclear power plant, and Asalouyeh is a key region for Iran's natural gas exports.
The U.S. military had previously launched continuous strikes against Iran in response to attacks on commercial vessels in the Hormuz Strait, and the Iranian military also retaliated against several U.S. targets in the Middle East, with ongoing escalation of military confrontation between the two sides.
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