Iran keeps Strait of Hormuz temporarily closed after warning shots

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained severely disrupted on Sunday, though the southern route along the Omani coastline was still open, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center. The advisory group said the threat level in the strait remained “severe” and warned mariners to expect radio contact with naval forces and to stay alert to the risk of mines. Earlier Sunday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would not allow vessels to pass the waterway until foreign interference ends. The latest tension followed a new round of US-Iran attacks, including overnight American strikes and an incident in which a Cyprus-flagged container ship was hit nine nautical miles off the Omani coast, caught fire and was abandoned by its crew. UK Maritime Trade Operations said local authorities rescued the crew, while India said one of its nationals onboard was missing. Vessel traffic in the strait was almost absent on Sunday, with only two oil products tankers seen approaching, after Iran had previously said the waterway was temporarily closed and impassable on June 12.