Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. The IRGC warned that vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz without permission will be attacked or destroyed. A senior IRGC adviser stated the strait has been closed and threatened attacks on ships, aligning with the IRGC's declaration that Iran will not allow a single liter of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States Central Command announced it will implement a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13. According to U.S. Central Command, the blockade will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports. U.S. President Donald Trump stated the U.S. will only consider a ceasefire if the Strait of Hormuz is opened, setting a clear condition for de-escalation.
Iran has issued contradictory statements about control of the strait and conditions for reopening. Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States ends its blockade of Iranian ports, according to Iranian officials. However, Iran's Revolutionary Guard declared that the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iran's full control and is open to non-military vessels, creating confusion about access. Iranian state media reports that the Strait of Hormuz is closed again and requires Iran's approval to pass, as per multiple media sources.
Recent attacks on merchant ships in the strait have intensified the crisis. At least two merchant ships have been fired upon while attempting to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, according to multiple reports. The captain of a tanker reported that boats from Iran's Revolutionary Guard approached the ship and fired shots, a detail corroborated by several media outlets. A UK maritime security agency said the Revolutionary Guards fired at one tanker, based on two sources. As of 12 March 2026, Iran has made 21 confirmed attacks on merchant ships, according to research from three sources.
Confusion and conflicting reports persist about the current status of the strait. On Wednesday evening, there is complete confusion about what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz, multiple media sources indicate. The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, according to two media reports, though there is a discrepancy with other claims about timing. A Russian-flagged tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz in a rare transit amid conflict, research shows, suggesting some limited movement.
Ceasefire agreements and temporary openings have provided brief respites. The U.S. and Iran agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, multiple media sources report. A two-week ceasefire is set to end on Wednesday unless it is renewed, according to two media outlets. On Friday, Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz open after a temporary ceasefire was agreed, as per two sources, highlighting the fluid nature of the situation.
Iran has escalated its military capabilities and threats against U.S. interests. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced it will increase the power and frequency of its missile launches, according to the IRGC. Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned of attacks on U.S. companies in the region from April 1 if more Iranian leaders are killed, the IRGC stated. Iran has surprised the U.S. by disabling much of its radar and advanced warning capability, allowing it to continue attacking ships and facilities in the region with missiles and drones, and to begin mining the crucial waterway, research indicates.
The U.S. military has responded with operations in the region. Two U.S. destroyers passed through the strait ahead of mine-clearing operations, multiple media sources report. US President Donald Trump announced his intent to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz on 9 March and later warned Iran to not lay mines in the body of water, according to research from three sources. On 19 March 2026, the United States Armed Forces began a military campaign to open the strait, research shows, though its effectiveness remains unclear.
The crisis began with historical events that set the stage for the current standoff. The Strait of Hormuz has experienced ongoing geopolitical and economic disruption since 28 February 2026, following joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, which included the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, research indicates. In response to the strikes, Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks on US military bases, Israeli territory, and Gulf states, according to three research sources.
Immediate economic impacts have been severe, with oil prices surging and shipping plummeting. Iran has shut the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices soaring, research from three sources confirms. The warnings and attacks caused a sharp decline in maritime transit, with tanker traffic dropping first by approximately 70% and over 150 ships anchoring outside the strait to avoid risks, soon afterwards dropping to about zero, research shows. This disruption affected about 20% of the world's daily oil supply and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG), prompting major shipping firms to suspend operations in the area, according to three research sources. Oil prices surged faster than during any other conflict in recent history; Brent crude oil prices surpassed US$100 per barrel on 8 March 2026 for the first time in four years, rising to US$126 per barrel at its peak, research indicates.
Broader economic implications and historical significance are profound. The closure of the strait has been described as the largest disruption to the energy supply since the 1970s energy crisis, as well as the largest in the history of the global oil market, research from three sources notes. Other commodity markets to suffer price increases from the crisis include aluminum, fertilizer, and helium, according to research.
Legal implications of Iran's actions have been highlighted. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz constitutes a violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea by denying transit in a strait used for international navigation, research from three sources states.
The current operational status of the Strait of Hormuz, such as whether it is fully closed, partially open, or open under specific conditions, remains uncertain. Specific terms and duration of any ceasefire or negotiation agreements between the U.S. and Iran are also unclear, with Trump claiming the new leader of Iran has asked the U.S. for a ceasefire, while Iran strictly rejects any negotiations, highlighting conflicting narratives. The exact number of ships attacked or damaged in the Strait of Hormuz and the extent of casualties or injuries have not been fully confirmed, though at least 21 attacks are documented. The effectiveness of the U.S. military campaign to reopen the strait and its specific actions are not detailed beyond initial operations. Broader impacts on global energy markets and supply chains beyond reported price surges and traffic declines are still unfolding.