Iran announces closure of transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz amid record tanker attacks

An advisor to the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Mohammadreza Naghdi, announced that Iran plans to close specific maritime transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran classifies as illegal. These routes, allegedly created by excavating rocky passages, were reportedly used by small boats for oil smuggling. Naghdi asserted that Iranian forces maintain full control over the strait and that these measures will continue until Tehran's demands are met.

Simultaneously, maritime security reports indicate that tensions have escalated significantly. The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) reported that between September 28 and October 5, at least 12 attacks or harassment incidents against oil, LNG, and LPG tankers occurred in the region. These incidents involved drone flights, surveillance, and radio communications. Shipping security sources describe this as the highest level of hostile activity since the conflict began.

While Iranian officials downplay claims of increased oil exports, data from Kpler suggests that crude exports reached 18.3 million barrels per day as of September 30, exceeding pre-war levels for much of September. These developments reflect an intensifying standoff regarding navigation rights and energy flows in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.