Iran declares Hormuz strait closed, US military insists traffic flowing

On July 12, 2026, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz after an Iranian attack on a commercial vessel forced its crew to abandon ship. Iran's Revolutionary Guards stated the strait would remain closed until the end of American interventions in the region. In response, the United States conducted strikes against about 140 targets in Iran, while the US Central Command insists the strait remains open and traffic is flowing normally.