Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Saturday night that it no longer considers itself bound by earlier international shipping agreements governing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil routes.
In its statement, the group said the move was a response to what it called Israel’s “deliberate disregard” and continuing military activity in Lebanon. It said the restrictions would apply to any vessel linked to Israel or to countries that support it.
The Guards added that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed to shipping connected to the “Zionist entity” and its backers until further notice. The announcement did not specify any change to the status of other traffic through the waterway.
The statement said, “We declare that we are released from any obligation or agreement related to opening Hormuz in light of this deliberate disregard and the continued Zionist attack in Lebanon. We declare the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping linked to the Zionist entity and its supporters until further notice.”