Key facts
- Iran's IRGC announced the Strait of Hormuz would be closed until further notice.
- The U.S. carried out strikes on Iranian missile and air defense systems and small speed boats around the Strait of Hormuz.
- The container ship GFS Galaxy was attacked, sustaining damage and a missing crew member.
- US Central Command stated the Strait of Hormuz remains open and traffic is flowing.
- Oman condemned drone strikes and agreed to continue talks with Iran.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced the Strait of Hormuz would be closed until further notice, following U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets. The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency stated that no vessels would be allowed to pass through until American interventions in the region cease. U.S. Central Command (Centcom) later challenged the closure claim, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz is open to lawful transit and that Iran does not control it, with traffic continuing to flow. These conflicting statements heighten uncertainty over shipping in the crucial Gulf waterway and increase the risk of disruptions to oil and LNG flows.
The latest U.S. strikes were initiated after IRGC forces attacked the Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy as it transited the strait. Centcom reported that a civilian crew member is missing and the vessel suffered significant engine-room damage and an onboard fire, preventing it from continuing its journey. The ship was hit nine nautical miles east of the Omani coast, and its crew abandoned it in a lifeboat, which was later rescued by local authorities. The vessel's AIS tracking system appeared to be switched off at the time.
Centcom stated that the U.S. completed a third round of strikes on July 11, targeting approximately 140 Iranian military sites, including missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage, and coastal surveillance locations. In a separate statement, the IRGC claimed its aerospace arm struck logistics support centers and refuelling platforms linked to U.S. aircraft carriers at Duqm port in Oman. Oman's state news agency also reported drone strikes in the Musandam governorate and condemned the attacks.
Visible AIS data indicated no traffic through the strait, though vessels might be transiting with tracking systems deactivated. However, the escalating security risks could deter such attempts and jeopardize the recovery of Gulf crude and product exports.