# IranClosesStraitOfHormuz

U.S.-Iran tensions have escalated sharply. The U.S. launched its third round of strikes on Iran this week, targeting aerial surveillance radars, missile and drone storage facilities, launch positions, and maritime surveillance radars — with a broader scope than previous strikes. In response, Iran's IRGC Navy announced in the early hours of July 12 that the Strait of Hormuz is now closed to all vessels until the U.S. stops interfering in the region. The closure followed a warning-shot incident in which a vessel traveling on an "unauthorized route" ignored warnings and was hit, forcing it to stop. Commercial shipping traffic has dropped sharply, with only 11 vessels transiting in the past 24 hours. The strait handles roughly one-fifth of global seaborne oil trade, and the closure directly threatens energy supply expectations. Analysts view the current exchanges as "gray-zone confrontation" — a pressure tactic rather than all-out war — but the risk of escalation remains real.