On June 13 (local time), a recording on a public maritime communication channel showed that the navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran (IRGC) issued a warning requesting ships not to move through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Xinhua, the recording was provided by a crew member on a commercial ship operating near this area. The content shows that the message was sent to all ships operating in the Persian Gulf and Oman Gulf.
In the message, the IRGC declared that the Strait of Hormuz has been "completely closed" and warned that all movement activities in the area will be resolutely handled.
For your safety and health, absolutely do not move through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice," the broadcast stated.
The information was released amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. On the same day, US President Donald Trump said that a peace agreement with Iran is expected to be signed on June 15 and the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened immediately afterwards.
Meanwhile, the US military announced that it had shot down many Iranian drones believed to be aimed at commercial ships operating in the strait area.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important strategic shipping routes, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean. A significant part of the global oil and natural gas volume is transported through this route every day.
However, maritime activities through the Strait of Hormuz have decreased sharply in recent months due to increased military tensions and attacks targeting commercial ships.
According to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as of June 11, 46 incidents related to sea transport in the Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East region have been recorded, killing 14 sailors.
On June 11, the IMO strongly condemned an attack on a tanker, killing 3 sailors believed to have died. Afterwards, the US military confirmed that this force had carried out the attack.
Observers believe that any prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could have a significant impact on the global energy market, as this is the lifeline of the world's oil and gas transportation.
