Iran Navy Declares Strait of Hormuz Closed and Fires on Commercial Vessels
On April 19, 2026, Iran's Navy officially announced that any vessel attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz would be targeted, effectively closing the vital waterway. This escalation follows a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports initiated earlier in the week. Reports from the UKMTO indicated that IRGC gunboats fired upon and forced two Indian-flagged tankers, including a supertanker carrying Iraqi oil, to turn back after they were targeted with projectiles.