Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, Disrupting International Shipping

CAIRO, SUNDAY - Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. The closure of the strait is a response to the combined attacks by the United States and Israel. As a result, the shipment of goods and maritime trade have been disrupted.

On Saturday (February 28, 2026), the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the strait via high-frequency radio. According to Reuters, Sunday (March 1, 2026), the IRGC warned that ships would not be allowed to pass through the strategic waterway.

Several ships currently in the area have reportedly received VHF transmissions from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. "No ships are allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz," said an official from the European Union Naval Force Aspides mission.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations on Saturday stated that they received numerous reports from vessels operating in the Gulf. The reports indicated that the ships received messages regarding the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The closure of the strait has prompted major oil companies and trading firms to suspend shipments of crude oil, fuel, and liquefied natural gas. "Our vessels will remain in place for a few days," a senior executive at a major trading firm told Reuters.

Satellite imagery from tanker tracking shows ships piling up near major ports. The vessels are halted, including at the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and are not moving through the Strait of Hormuz.

The British Navy stated that the Iranian order is not legally binding. Therefore, the British Navy advises ships to pass through with caution.

However, the INTERTANKO Tanker Association stated that the U.S. Navy has warned ships not to navigate in the area. Vessels are advised not to pass through the entire Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Northern Arabian Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Navy indicated that they cannot guarantee the safety of navigation.

The Greek Shipping Ministry on Saturday also warned ships to avoid the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.

Laura Page from consulting firm Kpler stated that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and navigation warnings have caused at least 14 liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers to show signs of slowing down, turning back, or stopping in or around the strait. The number of affected vessels is likely to increase, posing risks to Qatar's LNG exports.

German shipowner Hapag-Lloyd announced it was suspending its vessels' passage through the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing conflict.

"Due to the conflict in the Middle East and the official closure of the Strait of Hormuz by the relevant authorities amid the evolving security situation in the region, Hapag-Lloyd has suspended all ship transits through that waterway until further notice," stated the announcement from Hapag-Lloyd, the fifth largest shipping company in the world.

The strait located in the Arabian Gulf is very important for US allies and the global energy market. The Strait of Hormuz has become a primary focus after the US and Israel launched missile attacks against Iran on Saturday.

The strait is located between Oman and Iran, connecting the Gulf region to the north with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea across from it. The Strait of Hormuz has a width of 33 kilometers at its narrowest point, with shipping lanes only 3 kilometers wide in each direction.

The existence of this strait is crucial for the energy market. Approximately one-fifth of the total global oil consumption passes through this strait. According to data from the analytics company Vortexa, more than 20 million barrels of crude oil, condensate, and fuel passed through the strait on average each day last year.

OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq export most of their crude oil through the strait to Asia. Qatar, one of the largest liquefied natural gas exporters in the world, sends almost all of its LNG production through the strait.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are seeking alternative routes to avoid the strait. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration in June 2025, approximately 2.6 million barrels per day of unused capacity from existing pipelines in the UAE and Saudi Arabia could be utilized to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is tasked with protecting commercial shipping in the region. (AFP/REUTERS)