Petrol Price to Rise Again in Nigeria as Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Amid Fresh Face-off with US
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz until further notice after its naval forces fired warning shots at a vessel it accused of attempting to transit the waterway through an unauthorised route.
In a statement published early Sunday by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, the military accused foreign powers of interfering in the region by directing vessels through what it described as “unauthorised routes” across the vital shipping lane.
The IRGC said the decision followed a recent incident in which its naval forces fired warning shots at a vessel allegedly violating the approved navigation route. According to the statement, the move was prompted by what it described as growing security concerns in the waterway.
“Given the precarious situation caused by this unlawful interference by outside parties, the Strait of Hormuz is closed until further notice and until regional interference by the United States ceases,” the statement said. “No vessel or naval craft will be allowed to pass.”
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States over security in the Gulf. U.S. officials have reportedly demanded that Tehran publicly commit to ending attacks on commercial shipping and guarantee unrestricted access to all navigation lanes through the strait.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington and Tehran had agreed to continue diplomatic talks despite recent hostilities, while also declaring an end to the ceasefire.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, serving as the main export route for a significant share of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas.
Any prolonged disruption to traffic through the waterway could have far-reaching implications for global energy supplies, international trade and fuel prices, including a likely increase in petrol prices in Nigeria.