Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz in Response to Israeli Strikes on Lebanon
Iranian authorities officially closed the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic on April 8, 2026, following a surge in Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Tehran declared the closure as a retaliatory measure, disrupting a critical global energy corridor that handles 20% of world oil and gas trade. The move complicates the Pakistani-mediated two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which had just been announced to de-escalate the broader regional war.