Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Remains Open to Civilian Ships
Iran’s deputy foreign minister said reports that the Strait of Hormuz was closed were incorrect, while warning that ships should contact Iranian authorities for safe routing because of war-era mines.
Fact Check
The claim is well supported by multiple reports carrying Reuters material. 'Ships warned Hormuz still closed, risk attack without Iran approval - Reuters | Iran International' directly states that several vessels in the Persian Gulf received messages claiming to be from Iran’s navy saying the Strait of Hormuz remained closed. 'Shippers seek clarity on Hormuz passage as Iran issues fresh warnings' independently reproduces the message text shared with Reuters and says unauthorized ships were warned they would be 'targeted and destroyed.' 'Iran's IRGC navy issues map to guide ships around Hormuz mines, Iranian media say' also reports threatening messages received by several vessels, citing shipping sources. The main caveat is attribution: the reports say the messages were 'claiming to be from' Iran’s navy, and the exact operational status of the strait was described as unclear/conflicting in Reuters-linked coverage. So the narrower claim that vessels received such messages is likely true; any stronger claim that the strait was definitively closed by authoritative confirmed order is less certain.
Summary
Iran said the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all civilian ships and rejected reports that the waterway had been closed. Iran’s deputy foreign minister stated that vessels should contact Iranian authorities for safe routing because war-era mines are present in the area. The update also noted that a mine distribution map for the strait had previously been released, adding navigational context to the guidance.
Terms & Concepts
- Strait of Hormuz: A strategic maritime chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and a major route for global energy shipments.