Is Strait Of Hormuz Open Or Closed? Iran Drops Fresh Update, Rolls Back Decision To Open Strait '7 Claims...'

Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain, with hundreds of vessels and thousands of crew members reportedly waiting in Gulf waters. The key sea lane handles about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, so any disruption draws intense international concern.

Iranian officials state that commercial ships can still move through the strait, but military vessels remain barred. Navigation, they say, is organised with Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization to protect maritime safety, even as political tensions and conflicting statements continue.

Strait of Hormuz controls in focus amid US-Israel-Iran war latest news

Iranian President Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf challenges the United States over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Ghalibaf says that passage through the waterway follows a "designated route" and requires "Iranian authorization", signalling that Tehran intends to manage traffic under its own conditions.

Ghalibaf warns that Tehran may shut the corridor if Washington keeps its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Ghalibaf states, "With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open," indicating that future access links directly to US actions in the region.

Strait of Hormuz transit rules and US-Israel-Iran war latest news

According to a senior Iranian official quoted by Reuters, the strait is technically open, but ship movements must be coordinated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The official explains that every transit, whether inbound or outbound, now needs prior IRGC approval.

The same official mentions that unfreezing Iranian funds forms part of a wider understanding tied to reopening the route. Under this arrangement, the strait stays accessible to commercial traffic, while military ships are still denied passage, keeping the security situation delicate.

Aspect Current Iranian position

Ghalibaf insists that ship movements and rules in Hormuz "will be determined by the field, not by social media". Ghalibaf also says, "Media warfare and engineering public opinion are an importat part of war, and the Iranian nation is not affected by these tricks," stressing that Tehran views online narratives as secondary.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says the strait is open following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, while Donald Trump maintains that the US naval blockade remains in place. With these positions still apart, the status of shipping lanes stays unclear for many waiting crews.